Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
Deron Bilous | |
Smallimage: | Deron Bilous 2015.jpg |
Caption: | Bilous in 2015 |
Birth Date: | 7 October 1975 |
Birth Place: | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
Residence: | Edmonton, Alberta |
Office: | Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Alberta |
Term Start: | October 22, 2015 |
Term End: | April 30, 2019 |
Predecessor: | Clint Dunford |
Successor: | Tanya Fir |
Office1: | Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview |
Term Start1: | April 23, 2012 |
Term End1: | May 29, 2023 |
Predecessor1: | Tony Vandermeer |
Successor1: | Peggy Wright |
Party: | New Democrat |
Portfolio: | Minister of Economic Development and Trade |
Occupation: | Teacher |
Alma Mater: | University of Alberta |
Deron Michael Bilous (born October 7, 1975) is a Canadian politician, who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the riding of Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview, between 2012 and 2023.[1] He was a member of the Alberta New Democratic Party caucus.[2]
Bilous was born and raised in Edmonton and is very proud of his Ukrainian ancestry. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of education degree in 2001. For the past five years he has taught and mentored students at Edmonton's Inner City High School.
Bilous was NDP candidate in Edmonton-Centre in the 2008 provincial election, losing to Laurie Blakeman.
He was elected when he tried again in the 2012 provincial election.
He was re-elected in the 2015 election, which saw the NDP win a majority government. Bilous was named to the cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs and the Minister in Charge of Service Alberta on May 24, 2015.[3]
On October 22, 2015, his position in cabinet changed to Minister of Economic Development and Trade. He also was named Deputy Government House Leader.[4] [5]
On April 16, 2019, Bilous was re-elected for his third term in the Legislative Assembly, although his party lost enough seats to no longer be in government.[6] He then served as the Official Opposition Critic for Economic Development and Innovation.
In August 2022, Bilous announced he would retire at the 2023 Alberta general election.[7]
An active volunteer in his community, Bilous has been a member of the Beverly Heights Community League and vice-president of the Boyle Street Community League. From 2008 to 2011 he served as a board member on the Edmonton Aboriginal Urban Affairs Committee.
Bilous participated in the Canada World Youth program in 1995–96, working in Edmonton, Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, and Tunisia.[2]