| Jennifer Whiteside | |
| Honorific-Prefix: | The Honourable |
| Honorific-Suffix: | MLA |
| Office: | Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of British Columbia |
| Term Start: | December 7, 2022 |
| Predecessor: | Sheila Malcolmson |
| Premier: | David Eby |
| Office1: | Minister of Education of British Columbia |
| Term Start1: | November 26, 2020 |
| Term End1: | December 7, 2022 |
| Predecessor1: | Rob Fleming |
| Successor1: | Rachna Singh (Minister of Education and Child Care) |
| Premier1: | John Horgan David Eby |
| Assembly2: | British Columbia Legislative |
| Constituency Am2: | New Westminster |
| Term Start2: | October 24, 2020 |
| Predecessor2: | Judy Darcy |
| Party: | New Democratic |
| Birth Place: | New Westminster, British Columbia |
| Education: | Simon Fraser University |
| Occupation: | trade unionist |
Jennifer Whiteside is a Canadian politician and trade unionist who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2020 British Columbia general election.[1] She represents the electoral district of New Westminster as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP). She has served in the cabinet of British Columbia since 2020, currently as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.[2]
Born and raised in New Westminster, Whiteside went to New Westminster Secondary School before finishing secondary studies at Burnaby South.[3] She then attended Douglas College before enrolling at Simon Fraser University, graduating with a degree in history.[4] [5]
Prior to entering politics, Whiteside held a variety of positions within the labour movement. She had worked as a researcher with the Hospital Employees' Union (HEU) in BC, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Conseil provincial des affaires sociales in Quebec,[6] before re-joining the HEU in 2015 as secretary-business manager, also covering duties including chief spokesperson and lead negotiator.[4] [7]
With incumbent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for New Westminster Judy Darcy declining to seek re-election in 2020, Whiteside decided to contest the BC NDP nomination for the riding.[8] After securing the nomination,[9] she was elected MLA for New Westminster on October 24, 2020 with 60% of the popular vote.[10]
On November 26, 2020, Whiteside was appointed Minister of Education in the second cabinet of Premier John Horgan.[11] [12] On December 7, 2022 she was named Minister of Mental Health and Addictions by Premier David Eby.[13]