Former B.C. MLA, tourism minister passes away

VANCOUVER – A former British Columbia tourism minister who was forced to resign from the cabinet in the late 1980s over a lottery-fund scandal — but later earned a Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Queen — has died.

Bill Reid represented constituents in Surrey from 1983 to 1991 and also served as a minister of tourism under the Social Credit government.

But in September 1989 former premier Bill Vander Zalm asked him to resign from cabinet after it was reported the MLA directed part of a lottery-fund grant to a company owned by two friends.

Still, Reid contributed greatly to his community, serving as executive director of the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce and sitting on the boards of the Cloverdale Rodeo and local heritage and rail societies.

Moe Sihota, president of the BC New Democratic Party and a former cabinet minister, said he was very sorry to hear of Reid’s death.

“He was always a well-intentioned, passionate advocate for his community, a real cheerleader for this province and an exuberant tourism minister who did his best to promote the province,” said Sihota.

“He was a very likable, outgoing gentleman that even in the thrust of the legislature, it was hard not to smile when one was looking across the isle at him.”

Premier Christy Clark said in a statement Wednesday the province had lost one of its most passionate promoters.

“He had an unparalleled love for his province and was minister of tourism during Expo 86,” she said. “He fully embraced the opportunity to tell the world what an incredible place British Columbia is.

“Bill served eight years as an MLA and left his mark in many ways, including his incredible graciousness to everyone he met.”

Before his death, Reid was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and this past April the City of Surrey named him Good Citizen of the Year.

At the time, Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts said Reid had spent most of his life working to enhance the city’s business environment.