The Honourable Ravi Parmar is British Columbia’s Minister of Forests, Deputy Government House Leader and the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Langford–Highlands. One of the youngest people ever appointed to the provincial cabinet, he is currently the youngest MLA serving in the British Columbia Legislature. 

Born and raised in Langford, Ravi is the son of parents who immigrated to Canada from India in the early 1990s. His parents worked in health care and experienced significant employment uncertainty while raising their family. Those early experiences helped shape Ravi’s belief in the importance of secure employment, strong public services and governments that deliver meaningful results for working people and their communities.

Ravi’s commitment to public service began at a remarkably young age. While attending Belmont Secondary School, he helped lead a student campaign calling for new schools to address the West Shore’s rapidly growing population. That advocacy contributed to the construction of a new Belmont Secondary School and Royal Bay Secondary School.

Ravi went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Victoria. In 2014, at just 20 years old, he was elected as a trustee with the Sooke School District Board of Education—becoming one of the youngest elected officials in Canada. Two years later, he was selected as board chair.

During nearly a decade with the school board, including six years as chair, Ravi helped oversee the largest expansion of public education in the district’s history. This included thousands of new student spaces, the construction of several schools—including PEXSISEṈ Elementary and Centre Mountain Lellum Middle School—and the development of an innovative post-secondary campus in downtown Langford. His work was guided by a determination to ensure that public infrastructure kept pace with the needs of one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing communities.

Ravi’s connection with former Premier John Horgan began when he was still a middle-school student and invited the local MLA to speak to his class. That encounter developed into a lasting mentorship and helped inspire Ravi’s journey into public life. He later worked as a constituency assistant, campaign manager, senior ministerial advisor and chief of staff within the Government of British Columbia.

Through those roles, Ravi contributed to several major provincial initiatives. He helped support the development of the StrongerBC Economic Plan following the COVID-19 pandemic and worked on British Columbia’s Mass Timber Action Plan, gaining valuable experience in economic development, forestry policy, innovation and the challenges facing resource-dependent communities.

In June 2023, Ravi was elected MLA for Langford–Juan de Fuca in the by-election held following John Horgan’s retirement from provincial politics. He was re-elected in the 2024 provincial election as the MLA for the newly established riding of Langford–Highlands.

Before joining cabinet, Ravi served as Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials. In that position, he led the implementation of British Columbia’s International Credentials Recognition Act, helping reduce barriers and create clearer, fairer pathways for internationally trained professionals seeking to put their skills and experience to work in the province.

Premier David Eby appointed Ravi as British Columbia’s Minister of Forests in November 2024. Ravi specifically requested the forestry portfolio, recognizing the sector’s deep importance to workers, families, First Nations and communities throughout the province. As minister, his priorities include restoring confidence in the sector, improving access to fibre, encouraging investment and value-added manufacturing, advancing reconciliation with First Nations, strengthening forestry-dependent communities and helping British Columbia remain a global leader in sustainable forest management.