George Heyman was an environmental leader for years before he entered politics. From 1999 to 2008, he served as president of the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union, where he chaired the union’s first environment committee, pushed for efforts to measure and reduce the union’s environmental footprint, and helped launch a labour-environment alliance. From 2009-2012 George served as the executive director of Sierra Club BC. As an MLA in 2013, he has been a vocal advocate for increasing the carbon tax, investing in clean tech and transit, and making sure B.C.’s energy projects fit within the limits of a credible climate action plan. He was named B.C.’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in July 2017.