Ellis Ross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ellis Ross OBC MP
Ross in Vancouver, March 2021
Member of Parliament for Skeena—Bulkley Valley
Incumbent
Assumed office April 28, 2025
Preceded by	Taylor Bachrach
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Skeena
In office May 9, 2017 – September 21, 2024
Preceded by	Robin Austin
Succeeded by	Claire Rattée
Personal details
Born	Ellis Benjamin Ross 1965 (age 60–61) Kitimat, British Columbia
Political party	Conservative (federal)
Other political affiliations	BC United (provincial)
Spouse	Tracey Ross
Residences	Kitamaat Village, British Columbia
Occupation	Politician Indigenous leader

Ellis Benjamin Ross is a Canadian politician and a respected Indigenous leader. He has been serving as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the area called Skeena—Bulkley Valley since 2025.

Mr. Ross is a member of the Conservative Party. He was elected to the House of Commons in the 2025 federal election. This was a historic win. It was the first time the Conservatives won in this area since it was created in 2003.

Before joining federal politics, Ellis Ross was a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA). He represented the Skeena area from 2017 to 2024. During his time in provincial government, he held important roles. He was the Minister of Natural Gas Development and the Minister Responsible for Housing under Premier Christy Clark. He also ran for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party in 2022.

Ellis Ross: A Leader for British Columbia and Canada

Growing Up and Early Work

Ellis Ross was born on June 16, 1965, in Kitimat, British Columbia. He was one of seven children. He grew up in Kitamaat Village, which is part of the Haisla Nation reserve.

In his early career, Mr. Ross worked in different jobs. He helped with survey work for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He also ran a charter boat business. With his brother, he managed a business that involved logging and collecting wood from beaches. He and his wife, Tracey, have two daughters.

Serving the Haisla Nation

In 2003, Ellis Ross became the first full-time councillor for the Haisla Nation Council. A councillor is like a local government representative. In this role, he helped make important decisions for his community.

A significant achievement was signing a $50 million agreement in 2006. This agreement was with Kitimat LNG to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for easier storage and transport. This plant was built on one of the Haisla Nation reserves.

Mr. Ross served as a councillor until 2011. That year, he was elected as the Haisla Nation's Chief Councillor. This is a very important leadership position within the Haisla Nation. In 2014, he received a special honour. He was inducted into the Order of British Columbia, which recognizes outstanding achievements by people in the province.

Entering Provincial Politics

Ellis Ross decided to enter provincial politics in 2017. He ran as a candidate for the BC Liberal Party in the provincial election. He was elected as an MLA for the Skeena area. An MLA is a Member of the Legislative Assembly, who represents a specific region in the provincial government.

The Skeena area had often voted for the New Democratic Party in the past. Mr. Ross's win showed a change in how people were voting.

Key Roles in the Provincial Government

After his election, Premier Christy Clark appointed Ellis Ross to her cabinet. The cabinet is a group of top government ministers who advise the Premier. He became the Minister of Natural Gas Development and the Minister Responsible for Housing. These were important jobs focused on energy and providing homes for people.

His term as a minister was brief. The Liberal government lost a vote in June, and he finished his role that July. When his party was not in power, he served as a critic for Natural Gas and Petroleum Resources. A critic is an opposition member who watches over a specific government area.

Mr. Ross was re-elected as an MLA in the 2020 provincial election. He then became the Official Opposition critic for Environment and Climate Change Strategy. This meant he focused on environmental issues for his party.

Running for Party Leader

In 2021, Ellis Ross was the first person to announce he would run for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party. This election happened because the previous leader, Andrew Wilkinson, resigned. A leadership election is when party members choose a new leader.

His campaign finished in second place. Kevin Falcon was chosen as the new leader. After this, Mr. Ross was named the Official Opposition critic for Energy and LNG.

Moving to Federal Politics

In January 2024, it was announced that Ellis Ross would run for federal politics. He became the Conservative Party's candidate for the federal area of Skeena—Bulkley Valley.

Representing Skeena—Bulkley Valley

In the 2025 federal election, Ellis Ross won. He defeated the previous Member of Parliament, Taylor Bachrach. This meant he became the MP for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.

In 2025, he was also elected as the vice-chair of an important group. This group is the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. A standing committee is a small group of MPs who study specific topics in detail.