Iain Black
OfficeMinister of Labour of British Columbia
PremierGordon Campbell
Term startOctober 25, 2010
Term endMarch 23, 2011
PredecessorMurray Coell
SuccessorStephanie Cadieux
Office 1Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development of British Columbia
Premier 1Gordon Campbell
Term start 1June 10, 2009
Term end 1October 25, 2010
Predecessor 1Ida Chong
Successor 1Colin Hansen (Small Business)
Office 2Minister of Labour and Citizens Services of British Columbia
Premier 2Gordon Campbell
Term start 2June 23, 2008
Term end 2June 10, 2009
Predecessor 2Olga Ilich
Successor 2Murray Coell
Assembly 3British Columbia Legislative
Constituency am 3Port Moody-Coquitlam
Port Moody-Westwood (2005–2009)
Term start 3May 17, 2005
Term end 3October 3, 2011
Predecessor 3Christy Clark
Successor 3Joe Trasolini
Birth dateDecember 20, 1967 (age 58)
Birth placeWinnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
PartyBC Conservative (provincial)
Conservative (federal)
Other partyBC Liberal
Birth nameIain James Stewart Black
SpouseChris Torch (m. 1994)

Iain James Stewart Black (born 1967) is a Canadian politician and business executive who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) from 2005 to 2011, representing Port Moody-Westwood and later Port Moody-Coquitlam as part of the British Columbia Liberal Party caucus.[1] He served in cabinet under Premier Gordon Campbell as Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services from 2008 to 2009, as Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development from 2009 to 2010, and as Minister of Labour from 2010 to 2011.

Black resigned from the legislature in 2011 to join the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade as president and CEO, serving until 2019.[2] He ran as the Conservative Party of Canada candidate for the riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam in the 2025 federal election, and contested the 2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election,[3][4] but was unsuccessful in both attempts.[5][6]

Early life and family

Black was born in 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He holds an honours degree in business from the University of Manitoba,[1] and the ICD.D designation from the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management.[7] He moved to British Columbia in 1994 after marrying his partner Chris;[8] they raised their three children in the Westwood Plateau neighbourhood of Coquitlam.[1][9]

Business career (1995–2005)

Black spent most of his professional career in the technology sector, where he held senior management and executive roles prior to and following his time in public office. He began his career with IBM Canada Ltd., working in sales and marketing.[1] In 1995, he founded E-Z Net, a company that provided services to Internet service providers during the early growth of commercial internet access.[2] He then joined Axion Communications as vice-president of corporate sales, later becoming chief operating officer.[2] He became president and chief executive officer of The Electric Mail Company Inc. in 1999, later serving as a director, during a period in which the company expanded its business email services.[2]

He went on to serve as president of the Banking Solutions Group at Open Solutions Canada (formerly Datawest Solutions Inc.),[2] a provider of banking systems and outsourcing services for Canadian credit unions. Black was part of the senior management team involved in the merger between Open Solutions and Datawest Solutions, prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly in 2005.[10]

Political career (2005–2011)

Black was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2005 provincial election as a BC Liberal candidate, succeeding Christy Clark in the electoral district of Port Moody-Westwood.[1] During his time in the legislature, Black served in several parliamentary and cabinet-related roles, including as member of the British Columbia Treasury Board. He also chaired the Select Standing Committee to Appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner and, in December 2006, was appointed chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and the Economy, which reviews legislation and provides recommendations to cabinet.[1]

Prior to his appointment to cabinet, Black was the lead architect for the 2007 legislation that made booster seats mandatory for children between the ages of four and nine, or until reaching a height of 4 ft 9 in (140 cm).[11] He also led the International Business Hosting Program for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.[2]

He was named Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services in June 2008, replacing Olga Ilich.[12][13] After winning re-election in 2009 for the redistributed riding of Port Moody–Coquitlam,[14] Black was re-assigned as Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development.[12] With the Liberals losing support following the introduction of the harmonized sales tax, Premier Gordon Campbell shuffled his cabinet in October 2010, with Black once again handling the labour portfolio.[12][15]

Campbell announced his resignation as premier and BC Liberal leader in November 2010; Black supported Kevin Falcon in the ensuing leadership election.[9] He was excluded from cabinet after Christy Clark was sworn in as premier in March 2011, and was instead named parliamentary secretary for public transportation.[9]

Return to business (2011–2025)

Black resigned as MLA in October 2011 to become president and chief executive officer of the Vancouver Board of Trade.[2][16] During his tenure, the organization eliminated its operating deficit and underwent internal restructuring,[17] and re-branded as the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) in 2016.[18] It also expanded its programming and membership base, and by 2015 its board of directors included more women than men, a distinction among major Canadian business organizations at the time. The organization hosted more than 1,000 events during Black's leadership.[19]

Under Black's leadership, the GVBOT took public positions on a range of economic and policy issues. The organization supported increasing Canada's access to international oil markets, including through the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.[20] In 2018, the GVBOT organized a delegation of supporters to Alberta to demonstrate support for pipeline development.[21] The organization also publicly opposed proposed federal tax changes affecting small businesses in 2017, which were later modified by the federal government.[22]

After leaving GVBOT in April 2019,[23] Black returned to the technology sector. In 2019, he was appointed president and chief executive officer of Maximizer Software, a company within the Concord Group of Companies, and later served as vice chair and board advisor to the Concord Group.[8] In 2025, he founded Black Ink Advisory, an advisory firm providing guidance in executive leadership and governance, operational effectiveness and strategy development.[24]

Reentry into politics (2024–present)

2025 federal election

In 2024, Black announced his candidacy for the Conservative Party of Canada in the riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam.[25] In the 2025 Canadian federal election, he was defeated by incumbent Liberal MP Ron McKinnon.[5]

2026 BC Conservative leadership election

In January 2026, Black announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Conservative Party of British Columbia.[3][4] The results were announced on May 30; Black was eliminated from the race after finishing last in the third ballot with 30% of the vote.[6]

Community and business involvement

  • Member, Conservative Party of Canada National Economic Growth Council (2025), an advisory body focused on economic policy development.[26]
  • Member, Chair’s Council, Science World British Columbia (2017–2024).[23]
  • Chancellor, Vancouver School of Theology (2018–2022).[23][27]
  • Judge, Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 Awards (2014–2017).[28]
  • Coach, North Coquitlam United Soccer Club (2004–2010).[1]
  • Board director, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice (1999–2005).[1]

Accolades

  • “Executive of the Year” (2015) – Canadian Chamber of Commerce.[23]
  • Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 award.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Iain Black – Legislative Biography". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  2. ^ "Iain Black's Board Membership". Business in Vancouver. 2011-11-07. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  3. ^ Lee, Mi-Jung (2026-01-15). "Iain Black launches Conservative leadership bid". CTV News. Retrieved 2026-01-16.
  4. ^ Page, Mark (2025-01-15). "Former B.C. Liberal minister Iain Black enters B.C. Conservative leadership race". The Chilliwack Progress. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
  5. ^ "Canada election 2025 results: Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam". Global News. 2025-04-29. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  6. ^ Judd, Amy (2026-05-30). "New leader of the BC Conservative Party announced". Global News. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
  7. ^ "Iain Black, ICD.D – Black Ink Advisory". LinkedIn. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  8. ^ "Meet Iain". iainblack.ca. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  9. ^ Burgmann, Tamsyn (2011-08-24). "Iain Black quits as B.C. Liberal MLA; second Liberal to step down in a week". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  10. ^ "Open Solutions buys Canada’s Datawest Solutions". Finextra. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  11. ^ "Booster Seat Legislation". Government of British Columbia. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  12. ^ "Gordon Campbell Cabinet 2001-2011". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  13. ^ "Premier names new cabinet heading into election". CBC News. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  14. ^ "Iain Black resigning as MLA to join Board of Trade". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  15. ^ "B.C. Premier shakes up cabinet and bureaucracy". CTV News. The Canadian Press. October 25, 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  16. ^ Bailey, Ian (August 24, 2011). "As another Liberal MLA quits, Clark says it's business as usual". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "VBOT’s Iain Black wins Canadian Chamber Executive of the Year award". Business in Vancouver. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  18. ^ "Vancouver Board of Trade CEO defends re-branding". CBC News. 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  19. ^ "VBOT becomes only major business organization with more women than men". Board of Trade. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  20. ^ "Board of Trade president says pipelines — not lattés — boost economy". CBC News. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  21. ^ "GVBOT sending 100 Trans Mountain pipeline supporters to Alberta". Global News. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  22. ^ "Board of Trade Submission on Tax Changes". GVBOT. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  23. ^ Woodin, Hayley (2019-04-18). "Iain Black to leave GVBOT". Business in Vancouver. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  24. ^ "Conservative Leaders’ Economic Growth Council Holds First Meeting". Greg McLean MP. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  25. ^ Bailey, Ian (4 February 2024). "B.C.'s Iain Black joining other high-profile candidates in run for federal Tories as party's fortunes surge". The Globe and Mail
  26. ^ "Conservative Leader’s Economic Growth Council Holds First Meeting". Greg McLean MP. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  27. ^ "Vancouver School of Theology Twitter". Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  28. ^ "Business in Vancouver 40 Under 40". Business in Vancouver. Retrieved December 23, 2025.