Born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Neufeld was adopted by his parents from an orphanage,[2] and grew up in the hamlet of Grassy Lake before moving to Fort St. John, British Columbia.[1] He worked as a truck driver, then became a district manager with Tompkins Contracting.[1] He was an alderman on the Fort Nelson council from 1978 to 1981, then served as mayor from 1981 to 1986.[1][3]
He and his wife Montana Currie have four children.[1][3]
Provincial politics
Neufeld ran in the 1991 BC general election as a Social Credit Party (Socred) candidate in Peace River North, receiving 5,758 votes (54.79% of total valid votes) in a field of five candidates to become the riding's member of the legislative assembly (MLA).[4][5] He was one of only seven Socred candidates elected that year; with the formerly dominant Socreds collapsing, Neufeld defected to the BC Reform Party in March 1994.[1][6]
He was re-elected in Peace River North as a BC Reform candidate in the 1996 provincial election, receiving 5,299 votes (48.41% of total valid votes) in a field of six candidates.[4][5] He was one of two BC Reform candidates to be elected, the other being party leader Jack Weisgerber. BC Reform's presence was blamed for splitting the centre-right vote, allowing the New Democratic Party to eke out a majority despite coming second in the popular vote behind the Liberals. Wilf Hanni succeeded Weisgerber as Reform leader in August 1997; following a conflict with Hanni, Neufeld defected to the Liberals that October.[6] During this time in the Official Opposition he served as energy, mines and northern development critic.[1][3]
In the 2001 general election Neufeld was re-elected in Peace River North as the BC Liberal candidate, receiving 6,629 votes (73.22% of total valid votes) in a field of four candidates.[4][5] With the Liberals gaining power, Neufeld was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines on June 5, 2001 by Premier Gordon Campbell.[7] In this role, Neufeld was at the centre of the fray regarding the "re-regulation" of BC Hydro, which involves privatization of some of that Crown corporation. He also advocated for the increased use of coal power, and promoted allowing a scientific review of offshore oil and gas. His term as Minister of Energy and Mines was marked by significant growth in the oil and gas, and mining sectors.[citation needed]
After winning re-election in 2005 by receiving 5,498 votes (59.37% of total valid votes) in a field of four candidates,[4][5] he remained in the Campbell ministry as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.[7]
Senate
On December 22, 2008, it was announced that Neufeld would be appointed to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime MinisterStephen Harper, sitting as a Conservative.[8] He assumed office on January 2, 2009,[6] and officially resigned as MLA and provincial cabinet minister on the 19th of that month.[3][7] He served in a number of committees during his time in the upper house, including as vice-chair of the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance, and as chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources.[6]
Upon reaching age 75 on November 6, 2019, Neufeld was aged out of the Senate per constitutionally-enshrined mandatory retirement rules.[9]