Former Kelowna MLA named investment and trade commissioner

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The man who stepped aside so the premier could get elected in Kelowna now has a new government job.

Ben Stewart has been appointed investment and trade commissioner.

It’s a $150,000 a year job, according to Premier Christy Clark, who wants to raise the province’s profile in Asia, and says Stewart is the person for the job. “When he meets with government officials in China, they’ll have absolute confidence that he can pick up the phone and have a call returned to any member of the government here in British Columbia.”

Stewart resigned his seat as MLA in June so the premier could run in a by-election after she lost her own seat in the last election.

Clark says Stewart’s government and business background makes him qualified. “It’s not a job where you get to sit back and host dinners. It’s a job where you’re selling British Columbia every single day in the capitals all across the vast continent of Asia.”

Stewart says it’s important for government to grow the economy. “I told the premier after the by-election I would like to continue to help the provincial government in doing what was possible and this is one of the areas I felt very strongly about.”

Clark says she approached Stewart about this role last month.

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