Hon. Bowinn Ma

Bowinn Ma has served as MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale since May 2017 and was appointed Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness in 2022. She is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with a degree in civil engineering (BASc), a masters from the UBC Sauder School of Business (MM), and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

As Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Bowinn leads British Columbia’s lead coordinating agency for all emergency management activities. She shepherded the adoption of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act in 2023, which replaced the former Emergency Program Act. The updated legislation reflects the realities of the modern world including global pandemics, security threats, and climate change; shifts the province from focusing on emergency response to the four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery; and takes critical steps towards establishing First Nations as true partners in emergency management.

Bowinn’s degree in civil engineering included a background in transportation engineering that has served her well in her efforts to improve transportation on the North Shore and throughout the Lower Mainland. In 2018, she led the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project, which set the stage for a rapid transit concept to the North Shore and continues to guide regional transportation planning for all levels of government in the area.

In North Vancouver, Bowinn has championed local investments in housing, child care, and education. She is outspoken about the climate emergency and has made headlines for speaking publicly about difficult topics like racism, sexism, and eating disorders.

Bowinn previously served as Minister of State for Infrastructure, delivering major capital transportation infrastructure projects and supporting highway recovery efforts following the atmospheric river events of November 2021. She has also served as Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink and Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, where she led an all-party committee to develop recommendations for Transportation Network Services in British Columbia.

Prior to being elected MLA, she managed terminal expansion and redevelopment projects at the Vancouver International Airport. Bowinn is the Canadian-born daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and lives in North Vancouver with her husband, daughter, and two cats. She can often be found engaging with community members on the streets of North Vancouver-Lonsdale with her Bowinn MAbile.

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