Iain Black

Iain James Stewart Black (born 1967) is a Canadian politician and business executive who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) representing the electoral district of Port Moody–Westwood (later Port Moody-Coquitlam) from 2005 to 2011.^[1][2] A member of the Liberal Party, he served in Cabinet under Premier Gordon Campbell as Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services 2008 to 2009, as Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development from 2009 to 2010, and as Minister of Labour from 2010 to 2011.

Black resigned from the legislature in 2011 to serve as the President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT) from 2011 to 2019.^[3] In 2025, he ran unsuccessfully as the federal Conservative Party of Canada candidate in the riding of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam.^[4][2]

In 2026, Black announced his candidacy for the 2026 Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership race.^[5][6]

Early life and education

Black was born in 1967 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He holds an honours degree in commerce from the University of Manitoba and the ICD.D designation from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto.^[7]

Business career (1995–2005)

Black spent most of his professional career in the technology sector, where he held senior management and executive roles prior to and following his time in public office. He began his career with IBM Canada Ltd., working in sales and marketing.^[1] In 1995, he founded E-Z Net, a company that provided services to Internet service providers during the early growth of commercial internet access.^[3]

Black later served as chief operating officer of Axion Communications.^[3] He subsequently became president and chief executive officer of The Electric Mail Company Inc., later serving as a director, during a period in which the company expanded its business email services.^[3]

He went on to serve as president of the Banking Solutions Group at Open Solutions Canada (formerly Datawest Solutions Inc.), a provider of banking systems and outsourcing services for Canadian credit unions. Black was part of the senior management team involved in the merger between Open Solutions and Datawest Solutions, prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly in 2005.^[8]

After leaving provincial politics, Black returned to the technology sector. In 2019, he was appointed president and chief executive officer of Maximizer Software, a company within the Concord Group of Companies, and later served as vice chair and board advisor to the Concord Group.^[9] In 2025, he founded Black Ink Advisory, an advisory firm providing guidance in Executive Leadership & Governance, Operational Effectiveness and Strategy Development.^[10]

Political career (2005–2011)

Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (2011–2019)

Black resigned from the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in October 2011 to become president and chief executive officer of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (GVBOT).^[3] He served in the role for seven and a half years, departing in April 2019.^[4]

During his tenure, the organization eliminated its operating deficit and underwent internal restructuring.^[13] The GVBOT also expanded its programming and membership base, and by 2015 its board of directors included more women than men, a distinction among major Canadian business organizations at the time. The organization hosted more than 1,000 events during Black’s leadership.^[14]

Under Black’s leadership, the GVBOT took public positions on a range of economic and policy issues. The organization supported increasing Canada’s access to international oil markets, including through the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.^[15] In 2018, the GVBOT organized a delegation of supporters to Alberta to demonstrate support for pipeline development.^[16] The organization also publicly opposed proposed federal tax changes affecting small businesses in 2017, which were later modified by the federal government.^[17]

Reentry into politics (2024–present)

Community and business involvement

• Member, Conservative Party of Canada National Economic Growth Council (2025), an advisory body focused on economic policy development.^[18]
• Member, Chair’s Council, Science World British Columbia (2017–2024).^[3]
• Chancellor, Vancouver School of Theology (2018–2022).^[19]
• Judge, Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40 Awards (2014–2017).^[20]
• Coach, North Coquitlam United Soccer Club (2004–2010).^[1]
• Board director, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice (1999–2005).^[1]

Accolades

• “Executive of the Year” (2015) – Canadian Chamber of Commerce.^[21]
• Business in Vancouver Top 40 Under 40 award.^[3]

Personal life

Black lives with his wife, Chris, and their three children in Coquitlam, British Columbia.^[1][22]

Electoral history

References