Andrew Petter
Encyclopedia
Andrew J. Petter is currently President of Simon Fraser University
. He was formerly the dean of the University of Victoria's law school. He served briefly as Attorney General of British Columbia
under the New Democratic Party government of Ujjal Dosanjh
. Petter has written extensively about the role of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
and its effect on government powers and decision making.
in Nelson, BC and at the University of Victoria
before receiving an LL.B. from the University of Victoria
in 1981. Upon graduation he won the Law Society of British Columbia gold medal for the highest standing in his class. He subsequently received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1982 where he studied on a Commonwealth Scholarship
and graduated with first class honours.
between 1984 and 1986. He then joined the University of Victoria Faculty of Law in 1986.
in the general provincial elections of 1991 and 1996; from 1991 until 2001 Petter represented the riding of Saanich South
. His constituency work included establishing the Galloping Goose Regional Trail for cyclists.
During his time in the Legislative Assembly he held several cabinet portfolios including that of Attorney General of British Columbia
from February to November 2000. He served as Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations from February 1998 to February 2000, and was Minister Responsible for Youth for part of that time. Petter also served as Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations and Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental Relations from June 1996 to February 1998, Minister of Health from February to June 1996, Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996 and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs from November 1991 to September 1993. As Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996, Petter oversaw the establishment of the B.C. Forest Practices Code. He also was on the First Nations Task Force along with Brian Mulroney, Tom Sidden, and Mike Harcourt that created and put into effect- The Treaty Commission Act in British Columbia in May 1993.
program in Nunavut.
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
. He was formerly the dean of the University of Victoria's law school. He served briefly as Attorney General of British Columbia
Attorney General of British Columbia
The Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia is a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province of British Columbia, Canada...
under the New Democratic Party government of Ujjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dosanjh
Ujjal Dev Singh Dosanjh, PC, QC, is a Sikh Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as 33rd Premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and as a Liberal Party of Canada Member of Parliament from 2004 to 2011 including a stint as Minister of Health from 2004 until 2006 when the party lost...
. Petter has written extensively about the role of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
and its effect on government powers and decision making.
Education
Petter pursued undergraduate studies at Notre Dame University CollegeNotre Dame University College
Notre Dame University College was a private university in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.It was established in 1950 by the Roman Catholic diocese of Nelson and opened with...
in Nelson, BC and at the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
before receiving an LL.B. from the University of Victoria
University of Victoria
The University of Victoria, often referred to as UVic, is the second oldest public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It is a research intensive university located in Saanich and Oak Bay, about northeast of downtown Victoria. The University's annual enrollment is about 20,000 students...
in 1981. Upon graduation he won the Law Society of British Columbia gold medal for the highest standing in his class. He subsequently received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1982 where he studied on a Commonwealth Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarship
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan is an international programme under which Commonwealth governments offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth countries.-History:...
and graduated with first class honours.
Career
Petter was a legal adviser to the Constitutional Branch of the Saskatchewan Department of Justice. Petter then taught at Osgoode Hall Law SchoolOsgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
between 1984 and 1986. He then joined the University of Victoria Faculty of Law in 1986.
Politics
Petter was twice elected to the Legislative Assembly of British ColumbiaLegislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
in the general provincial elections of 1991 and 1996; from 1991 until 2001 Petter represented the riding of Saanich South
Saanich South
Saanich South is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was created by 1990 legislation dividing the previous two-member district of Saanich and the Islands which came into effect for the 1991 B.C...
. His constituency work included establishing the Galloping Goose Regional Trail for cyclists.
During his time in the Legislative Assembly he held several cabinet portfolios including that of Attorney General of British Columbia
Attorney General of British Columbia
The Ministry of the Attorney General of British Columbia is a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system within the province of British Columbia, Canada...
from February to November 2000. He served as Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations from February 1998 to February 2000, and was Minister Responsible for Youth for part of that time. Petter also served as Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations and Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental Relations from June 1996 to February 1998, Minister of Health from February to June 1996, Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996 and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs from November 1991 to September 1993. As Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996, Petter oversaw the establishment of the B.C. Forest Practices Code. He also was on the First Nations Task Force along with Brian Mulroney, Tom Sidden, and Mike Harcourt that created and put into effect- The Treaty Commission Act in British Columbia in May 1993.
Higher education
Subsequent to his career in politics, he served as dean of the University of Victoria’s faculty of law from 2001 until 2008 (the first year as Acting Dean). During his time as Dean, Petter established a new graduate law program, created a national aboriginal economic development chair and established the Akitsiraq Law SchoolAkitsiraq Law School
Akitsiraq Law School is a legal education program designed to increase the number of lawyers in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic, including a program leading to a Bachelor of Laws Degree in Iqaluit, Nunavut....
program in Nunavut.
Selected publications
- Private Rights/Public Wrongs: The Liberal Lie of the Charter in the University of Toronto Law Journal, 1995
- The Politics of the Charter, Supreme Court Law Review, 1986
- Rights in Conflict: The Dilemma of Charter Legitimacy, University of British Columbia Law ReviewUniversity of British Columbia Law ReviewThe University of British Columbia Law Review is a law review run by the students at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Law.-External links:*...
, 1989 - Federalism and the myth of the federal spending power, Canadian Bar Review, 1989