| Tom Christensen | |
| Assembly: | British Columbia Legislative |
| Constituency Am: | Okanagan-Vernon |
| Term Start: | May 16, 2001 |
| Term End: | May 12, 2009 |
| Predecessor: | April Sanders |
| Successor: | Eric Foster |
| Office1: | Minister of Education of British Columbia |
| Premier1: | Gordon Campbell |
| Term Start1: | January 26, 2004 |
| Term End1: | June 16, 2005 |
| Predecessor1: | Christy Clark |
| Successor1: | Shirley Bond |
| Office2: | Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation of British Columbia |
| Premier2: | Gordon Campbell |
| Term Start2: | June 16, 2005 |
| Term End2: | August 15, 2006 |
| Predecessor2: | Geoff Plant (Treaty Negotiations) Murray Coell (Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services) |
| Successor2: | Michael de Jong |
| Office3: | Minister of Children and Family Development of British Columbia |
| Premier3: | Gordon Campbell |
| Term Start3: | August 15, 2006 |
| Term End3: | June 10, 2009 |
| Predecessor3: | Stan Hagen |
| Successor3: | Mary Polak |
| Birth Date: | 1966 |
| Birth Place: | Vernon, British Columbia |
| Party: | BC Liberal |
| Alma Mater: | University of Victoria |
| Profession: | lawyer |
Tom Christensen (born 1966)[1] [2] is a Canadian lawyer and former politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Okanagan-Vernon from 2001 to 2009. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in several cabinet posts under Premier Gordon Campbell.
Born in Vernon, British Columbia, he attended the University of Victoria, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in geography and environmental studies in 1990, and a law degree in 1994.[2] [3] He was called to the British Columbia bar in 1995 and practised at Davidson & Company, becoming partner in 1999.[2] [3]
He ran as a candidate for the British Columbia Liberal Party in the 2001 provincial election, and was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Okanagan-Vernon.[3] He was appointed to the cabinet in January 2004 to serve as Minister of Education.[4]
After being returned in the 2005 election with a margin of 2,571 votes,[5] he was named Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation.[4] He was subsequently re-assigned as Minister of Children and Family Development in August 2006 as part of a cabinet shuffle.[4] [6] He did not seek re-election in 2009.[7]