Andy Burton
Encyclopedia
Andy Burton is a Canadian
politician.
Burton immigrated with his family to Canada from England
in 1952 at the age of 10. He grew up in Prince George, British Columbia
. In the early 1960s, he worked as a highway surveyor and then as a bulk plant manager for Shell Petroleum. He began his small business in 1964, and operated it until he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
in the 2000 federal election
as the Canadian Alliance
Member of Parliament
(MP) for Skeena
riding.
Burton entered politics in the 1970s. During his 24 year municipal career, he served as Mayor of Stewart, British Columbia
for six years, and town councillor for 18 years.
He joined the Reform Party of Canada
at its formation in 1987, and remained a member of its successors, the Canadian Alliance and the Conservative Party of Canada
. In his tenure in Parliament, Burton served variously as Canadian Alliance Critic
for Public Works, Fisheries and Natural Resources and then as the Conservatives Party's Fisheries and Oceans critic.
On June 25, 2001, Burton was one of a dozen MPs who were expelled from or left the Canadian Alliance caucus due to their criticisms of Stockwell Day
's leadership and sat as "Independent Alliance" MPs.http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/HofCChange.asp?lang=E&query=34 In early September, an offer was made to the MPs that they would be readmitted to the Alliance caucus if they promised to refrain from criticizing Day's leadership. Burton accepted the offer along with four other dissident MPs, while the rest refused and formed the Democratic Representative Caucus
. Burton rejoined the Canadian Alliance caucus on September 10, 2001.
Burton is a social conservative, and an opponent of abortion rightshttp://www.theinterim.com/2004/aug/01numbers.html and same-sex marriage
http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=3648.
He was defeated in the 2004 federal election
by less than 1,000 votes by Nathan Cullen
of the New Democratic Party
.
In November, 2006 Burton ran and won a municipal by-election in Burns Lake British Columbia. This will be Burton's first term as a counselor for Burns Lake.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Burton immigrated with his family to Canada from England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1952 at the age of 10. He grew up in Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, British Columbia
Prince George, with a population of 71,030 , is the largest city in northern British Columbia, Canada, and is known as "BC's Northern Capital"...
. In the early 1960s, he worked as a highway surveyor and then as a bulk plant manager for Shell Petroleum. He began his small business in 1964, and operated it until he was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 2000 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
as the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Skeena
Skeena (electoral district)
Skeena was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 2004.-Geography:This was a rural, mostly wilderness, riding in northwestern B.C...
riding.
Burton entered politics in the 1970s. During his 24 year municipal career, he served as Mayor of Stewart, British Columbia
Stewart, British Columbia
Stewart is a small town, incorporated as a district municipality at the head of the Portland Canal in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. In 2006, its population was about 496.-History:...
for six years, and town councillor for 18 years.
He joined the Reform Party of Canada
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
at its formation in 1987, and remained a member of its successors, the Canadian Alliance and the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. In his tenure in Parliament, Burton served variously as Canadian Alliance Critic
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
for Public Works, Fisheries and Natural Resources and then as the Conservatives Party's Fisheries and Oceans critic.
On June 25, 2001, Burton was one of a dozen MPs who were expelled from or left the Canadian Alliance caucus due to their criticisms of Stockwell Day
Stockwell Day
Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., PC, MP is a former Canadian politician, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a former cabinet minister in Alberta, and a former leader of the Canadian Alliance. Day was MP for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia and the president of...
's leadership and sat as "Independent Alliance" MPs.http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/HofCChange.asp?lang=E&query=34 In early September, an offer was made to the MPs that they would be readmitted to the Alliance caucus if they promised to refrain from criticizing Day's leadership. Burton accepted the offer along with four other dissident MPs, while the rest refused and formed the Democratic Representative Caucus
Democratic Representative Caucus
The Democratic Representative Caucus was a group of Canadian Members of Parliament who left the Canadian Alliance in 2001 in protest against the leadership of Stockwell Day...
. Burton rejoined the Canadian Alliance caucus on September 10, 2001.
Burton is a social conservative, and an opponent of abortion rightshttp://www.theinterim.com/2004/aug/01numbers.html and same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=3648.
He was defeated in the 2004 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
by less than 1,000 votes by Nathan Cullen
Nathan Cullen
Nathan Cullen is a Canadian Member of Parliament for the riding of Skeena—Bulkley Valley in the Canadian House of Commons. He is a candidate for the federal leadership of the NDP. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Cullen is fluent in English, French and Spanish and is married with young twin sons...
of the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
.
In November, 2006 Burton ran and won a municipal by-election in Burns Lake British Columbia. This will be Burton's first term as a counselor for Burns Lake.