Bob Skelly
Encyclopedia
Robert Skelly is a former Canadian politician
from British Columbia
. He was born April 14, 1943 at New Westminster, British Columbia
and worked as a teacher.
He served in the BC Legislature from 1972 to 1987. The longest-serving member for Alberni constituency in history, he was elected five times. He was elected leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party in 1984 and was Opposition Leader in the BC Legislature until 1987. He resigned as MLA in early 1988 and was elected to the Canadian House of Commons
representing the Federal riding of Comox—Alberni
from 1988 to 1993.
His campaign in the 1986 election
was plagued with image problems. While the NDP failed to gain any seats under his leadership, neither did they lose any (Social Credit won 47 seats to the NDP's 22 in the newly enlarged BC Legislative Assembly). The NDP had dropped in popular vote from the previous election, though they scored a higher percentage than in the elections they won in 1972, 1991 and 1996. The NDP vote fell in each election after 1979 until the 2005 election.
Following the election, the distribution of electoral districts in the province was declared to be biased in favour of Social Credit and the courts ordered a fair redistribution. In 1986 Skelly resigned as NDP leader and in the following year, a party convention acclaimed Michael Harcourt
as his successor.
Skelly went on to federal politics and was elected Member of Parliament
for the federal riding of Comox—Alberni
in the 1988
federal election under the banner of the New Democratic Party
. He ran for a second term but was defeated in the same riding in the 1993
general election.
Skelly served in parliament at the same time as his brother Ray Skelly
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. He was born April 14, 1943 at New Westminster, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and worked as a teacher.
He served in the BC Legislature from 1972 to 1987. The longest-serving member for Alberni constituency in history, he was elected five times. He was elected leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party in 1984 and was Opposition Leader in the BC Legislature until 1987. He resigned as MLA in early 1988 and 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...
representing the Federal riding of Comox—Alberni
Comox—Alberni
Comox—Alberni was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1979.This riding was created in 1914 from parts of Comox—Atlin riding....
from 1988 to 1993.
His campaign in the 1986 election
British Columbia general election, 1986
The British Columbia general election of 1986 was the 34th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 24, 1986...
was plagued with image problems. While the NDP failed to gain any seats under his leadership, neither did they lose any (Social Credit won 47 seats to the NDP's 22 in the newly enlarged BC Legislative Assembly). The NDP had dropped in popular vote from the previous election, though they scored a higher percentage than in the elections they won in 1972, 1991 and 1996. The NDP vote fell in each election after 1979 until the 2005 election.
Following the election, the distribution of electoral districts in the province was declared to be biased in favour of Social Credit and the courts ordered a fair redistribution. In 1986 Skelly resigned as NDP leader and in the following year, a party convention acclaimed Michael Harcourt
Michael Harcourt
Michael Franklin Harcourt served as the 30th Premier of the province of British Columbia in Canada from 1991 to 1996, and before that as the 34th mayor of BC's major city, Vancouver from 1980 to 1986....
as his successor.
Skelly went on to federal politics and was elected Member of Parliament
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...
for the federal riding of Comox—Alberni
Comox—Alberni
Comox—Alberni was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1979.This riding was created in 1914 from parts of Comox—Atlin riding....
in the 1988
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
federal election under the banner 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...
. He ran for a second term but was defeated in the same riding in the 1993
Canadian federal election, 1993
The Canadian federal election of 1993 was held on October 25 of that year to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 35th Parliament of Canada. Fourteen parties competed for the 295 seats in the House at that time...
general election.
Skelly served in parliament at the same time as his brother Ray Skelly
Ray Skelly
Raymond John Skelly is a former Canadian politician.A teacher by profession, Skelly was first elected as the New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Comox—Powell River in the 1979 federal election. He served for fourteen years until being defeated in the 1993 federal election in the renamed...
.