He was previously a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Peace River North from 1991 to 2009, and served as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in the cabinet of Premier Gordon Campbell.
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.
[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.
[7] On December 22, 2008, it was announced that Neufeld would be appointed to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, sitting as a Conservative.