Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon MP Mark Strahl has been named by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to chair the Conservative party's BC/Yukon caucus effective immediately.
"I feel honoured and humbled to have been asked by the Prime Minister to take over this important role," Strahl said in a Thursday news release announcing the appointment.
As the regional chair for British Columbian and the Yukon, Strahl will chair a weekly meeting of Conservative MPs and Senators from across the region, and also chair the bi-annual BC/Yukon stakeholder meeting that take place in Vancouver.
He will report the work of the regional caucus to the national caucus and to the Prime Minister.
Strahl was first elected just over a year ago on May 2, 2011 in the riding that was long held by his father Chuck Strahl.
In addition to his new duties as regional caucus chair, Strahl is also a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence and the Standing Committee on Health.
"The BC/Yukon Conservative caucus is a strong group of outstanding MPs and Senators, and I am looking forward to working with them in this new position," Strahl said in the news release.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to salute our outgoing chair, Dick Harris (Caribou-Prince George) for his outstanding leadership of our caucus for the last six years," Strahl said.