Professional History:

Russ was first elected to Parliament in June of 2004, re-elected for a second term in January 2006, and a third term in October 2008.

Russ' education began at the University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Engineering. He later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Biola University in California . Russ then went on to attend the University of British Columbia where he earned both a Bachelor of Laws degree and his Masters in Business Administration.

Russ' background is rich in the areas of law, business and public affairs. Not only has he practiced law for several years, Russ has also owned a software company and worked in several public policy positions. He has also worked at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. and at the International Trade Centre of Canada.

In his first term as Member of Parliament, Russ served on the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. He also founded and serves as Co-Chairman of the Parliamentary Border Caucus which focuses on Canada/US border issues, trade and security.

With his announcement in August 2005 of the formation of the Conservative Party Task Force on Safe Streets and Healthy Communities, Leader Stephen Harper named Russ as Co-Chairman of the Task Force, along with former Attorney General of Ontario and current Finance Minister, Jim Flaherty.

At the beginning his second term, Russ was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, and continued in his role as Co-Chairman of the Border Caucus. In 2006 he was first elected Chairman of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), a post he has been re-elected to annually ever since by his fellow MPs. In October 2007, Russ assumed the position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Western Economic Diversification.

Russ was elected to his third term as MP in October of 2008. He currently serves on the House of Commons Natural Resources Committee, and the International Human Rights Sub-Committee, as well as continuing in his leadership roles with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Assocation and the Parliamentary Border Caucus.

Personal History:

Russ and his wife Andrea, and daughters Kate and Marie live in Cloverdale. Andrea works as a financial services provider.