George Abbott (politician)
Encyclopedia
George Abbott is a BC Liberal Party Member of the Legislative Assembly
of British Columbia
, Canada
. He represents the riding of Shuswap
, which he has held since 1996. He was re-elected as MLA for Shuswap on May 12, 2009.
and his Master of Arts in political science from the University of Victoria
.
Abbott was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District. He was also involved in amateur sports as a minor hockey coach.
George and Lesley Abbott live in Sicamous and have three children.
. He currently sits on the Priorities and Planning Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Families First. Abbott was appointed Minister of Education on October 25, 2010 until his resignation on November 25, 2010. He previously served as Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and government deputy house leader from June 10, 2009 until October 25, 2010. He also served as Minister of Health from June 16, 2005 until 2009, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.
While serving in the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's services Abbott worked with UBCM to pass the Community Charter. He was later awarded a lifetime membership in UBCM for his work on the file. During his term in the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Abbott worked with industry, environmental, and First Nations groups to complete the Great Bear Rainforest agreement which included a move to ecosystem based management. As a result of his work on this file, Abbott was the only BC Liberal Candidate endorsed by the Conservation Voters of BC in 2005.
As Minister of Health, Abbott partnered with the BC Medical Association to introduce Electronic Health Records to BC. Abbott enshrined the five principles of the Canada Health Act, plus a sixth – the principle of sustainability – in provincial law. Abbott also pushed for innovation in the health system and introduced the $100-million Health Innovation Fund, which funded pilot projects to reduce wait times in emergency rooms and for elective surgeries. As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Abbott worked with First Nations leaders to designate the Salish Sea and Haida Gwaii and signed a final agreement with the Yale First Nation.
to replace Gordon Campbell when he steps down. During the campaign he stated he "would as premier move the referendum on the controversial tax to no later than June 24, 2011 rather than the September 24 date currently in place" and increase the minimum wage. He called for a review or the $6 million payment made for expenses incurred by convicted Liberal aides Robert Virk and David Basi in association with the BC Rail trial, however, he refused to call for a full public inquiry in the alleged scandal involving allegations of bribes to Liberal party insiders. He placed third in the leadership election, which was won by Christy Clark
.
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
of 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...
, Canada
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...
. He represents the riding of Shuswap
Shuswap (provincial electoral district)
Shuswap is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.It is the successor riding to the old Salmon Arm riding. For other historical and current federal and provincial ridings in the Shuswap-Kamloops-North Okanagan, please see Kamloops and Okanagan...
, which he has held since 1996. He was re-elected as MLA for Shuswap on May 12, 2009.
Personal life
He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
and his Master of Arts in political science 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...
.
Abbott was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District. He was also involved in amateur sports as a minor hockey coach.
George and Lesley Abbott live in Sicamous and have three children.
Politics
George Abbott was appointed Minister of Education on March 14, 2011 by the new Premier of British Columbia, Christy ClarkChristy Clark
Christina Joan "Christy" Clark, MLA is a Canadian politician, the 35th and current Premier of British Columbia, Canada...
. He currently sits on the Priorities and Planning Committee and the Cabinet Committee on Families First. Abbott was appointed Minister of Education on October 25, 2010 until his resignation on November 25, 2010. He previously served as Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and government deputy house leader from June 10, 2009 until October 25, 2010. He also served as Minister of Health from June 16, 2005 until 2009, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.
While serving in the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's services Abbott worked with UBCM to pass the Community Charter. He was later awarded a lifetime membership in UBCM for his work on the file. During his term in the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management, Abbott worked with industry, environmental, and First Nations groups to complete the Great Bear Rainforest agreement which included a move to ecosystem based management. As a result of his work on this file, Abbott was the only BC Liberal Candidate endorsed by the Conservation Voters of BC in 2005.
As Minister of Health, Abbott partnered with the BC Medical Association to introduce Electronic Health Records to BC. Abbott enshrined the five principles of the Canada Health Act, plus a sixth – the principle of sustainability – in provincial law. Abbott also pushed for innovation in the health system and introduced the $100-million Health Innovation Fund, which funded pilot projects to reduce wait times in emergency rooms and for elective surgeries. As Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Abbott worked with First Nations leaders to designate the Salish Sea and Haida Gwaii and signed a final agreement with the Yale First Nation.
Campaign for Liberal leadership
On November 25, 2010, George Abbott announced he was running for the leadership of the BC Liberal PartyBritish Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, 2011
The British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election of 2011 was prompted by Gordon Campbell's announcement on November 3, 2010 that he would be resigning as Premier of British Columbia and had asked the BC Liberal Party to hold a leadership convention "at the earliest possible date." The...
to replace Gordon Campbell when he steps down. During the campaign he stated he "would as premier move the referendum on the controversial tax to no later than June 24, 2011 rather than the September 24 date currently in place" and increase the minimum wage. He called for a review or the $6 million payment made for expenses incurred by convicted Liberal aides Robert Virk and David Basi in association with the BC Rail trial, however, he refused to call for a full public inquiry in the alleged scandal involving allegations of bribes to Liberal party insiders. He placed third in the leadership election, which was won by Christy Clark
Christy Clark
Christina Joan "Christy" Clark, MLA is a Canadian politician, the 35th and current Premier of British Columbia, Canada...
.
See also
- British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, 2011British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, 2011The British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election of 2011 was prompted by Gordon Campbell's announcement on November 3, 2010 that he would be resigning as Premier of British Columbia and had asked the BC Liberal Party to hold a leadership convention "at the earliest possible date." The...
- Shuswap (provincial electoral district)Shuswap (provincial electoral district)Shuswap is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.It is the successor riding to the old Salmon Arm riding. For other historical and current federal and provincial ridings in the Shuswap-Kamloops-North Okanagan, please see Kamloops and Okanagan...
- British Columbia Liberal PartyBritish Columbia Liberal PartyThe British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
- BC Legislature RaidsBC Legislature RaidsThe BC Legislature Raids resulted from search warrants executed on the Legislature of British Columbia, Canada, in 2003. The legal proceedings were stopped just before government officials were to testify...
- Harmonized Sales TaxHarmonized Sales TaxThe Harmonized Sales Tax is the name used in Canada to describe the combination of the federal Goods and Services Tax and the regional Provincial Sales Tax into a single value added sales tax in five of the ten Canadian provinces: Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, British...