Heavenly Father, we thank You for MLA: Laurie Throness. Bless him with Your strength and courage and fill him with amazing wisdom that he would truly be Your hand extended for such a time as this. Thank you for his willingness to serve. We ask that You give him clear direction in all that he undertakes and that he would also be surrounded by advisers who You give clear direction to. Encourage him in the way You would have him go. Protect him and his family and bless them with good health. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Laurie Throness was elected MLA for Chilliwack-Hope on May 14, 2013.
Laurie is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Corrections, and is a member of the Cabinet Committee on Secure Tomorrow, and the Legislative Review Committee.
Prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Laurie worked in the political realm, serving federal and provincial politicians.
Since 1984, Laurie has been involved in helping those who have represented the Fraser Valley community in government. He began as Executive Assistant to former local MLA Harvey Schroeder, then Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Social Credit government. In 1994, Laurie accepted a position to work for Reform MP Chuck Strahl through his first term in Ottawa. Laurie then joined the Opposition Leader’s office, providing policy research and advice to three opposition leaders – Preston Manning, Stockwell Day and Stephen Harper. Following the election of a Conservative government in Ottawa in 2006, Laurie served as the Chief of Staff to Minister Chuck Strahl in the departments of Agriculture, Aboriginal Affairs, and Transport.
Laurie is a supporter of continuing education and lifelong learning. A graduate of Canadian Bible College in Regina with a degree in Biblical Studies, Laurie later went on to earn a degree in history from Waterloo University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Queen’s University. In 2002, Laurie pursued a PhD in History at Cambridge University in the UK, and wrote a book (published in October 2008) about the history of our penitentiary (prison) system.