In 1975, Mr. Emerson joined the Government of British Columbia, becoming the Province’s Deputy Minister of Finance in 1984. In 1986, he left government to become President and CEO of the Western and Pacific Bank of Canada, then, following a merger, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Western Bank. Four years later, he returned to the provincial government as Deputy Minister of Finance, then Deputy Minister to the Premier, and later President of B.C. Trade Development Corporation. From 1992 to 1997, he served as Presi-dent and CEO of the Vancouver International Airport Authority.
He was President and CEO of Canfor Corporation (1998 – 2004).
David Emerson was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and was named Minister of Industry in July. He was reelected in 2006. From 2006 to 2008, he was Minister of International Trade with responsibility for 2010 Winter Olympics and Asia Pacific Gateway initiative for the Government of Canada. He became Minister of Foreign Affairs from May to November 2008.
Currently, Mr. Emerson is Chairman of Emerson Services Ltd. He is Chair of the Premier’s Council in Alberta for Economic Strategy. Chair, Energy Policy Institute of Canada and Co-Chair, Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee on the Public Service.
He is a Director of several companies including, Finning Inter-national Corporation, TimberWest Forest Corporation and Jazz Air, LP.
Mr. Emerson has his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Alberta and his doctorate from Queen’s University.
He and his wife Theresa have two children. He also has three grown children.