Gordon Wilson (Canadian politician)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Wilson is a former provincial politician in British Columbia
. He served as leader of the Liberal Party of BC from 1987–1993, leader and founder of the Progressive Democratic Alliance
from 1993–1997, and in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance and Minister of Employment, Investment and International Trade. He also ran as a candidate in the 2000 BC New Democratic Party leadership race.
, spent his early years in Kenya
and returned to British Columbia in the 1970s. He has a BSc
from the State University of New York
, and a Master's degree
from the University of British Columbia
in Resource Economics.
He raised two children with his wife Elizabeth in the Middlepoint area of BC's Sunshine Coast, dabbling in pig farming before teaching Resource Economics and Economic Geography at Capilano College
(North Vancouver), where he also served as president of the faculty association.
, Wilson's profile skyrocketed after his highly successful performance in the campaign's televised leaders debate. During a nasty squabble between Social Credit
party leader Rita Johnston
and BC NDP
leader Mike Harcourt
, Wilson famously pointed out that "here's a classic example of why nothing ever gets done in the province of British Columbia". It would become the campaign's most successful sound bite.
As a consequence, he led the Liberal Party to win 17 seats, its highest total since 1949. They became the Official Opposition in the legislature, relegating the ruling Social Credit Party to a distant third with seven seats. Wilson won his own seat in Powell River-Sunshine Coast
.
In 1993, Wilson's leadership of the Liberals was challenged after it came to light that he was having an extramarital affair with fellow Liberal MLA Judi Tyabji
, whom he had recently named as the party's House Leader
.
In a Liberal Party leadership review that had been called soon afterward, Wilson was defeated by Vancouver mayor Gordon Campbell. Within weeks, he and Tyabji left the Liberal caucus and formed a new party, the Progressive Democratic Alliance
(PDA).
In the 1996 provincial election
, Wilson retained his seat, while Tyabji, whom he later married, lost hers.
In 1997, Wilson shocked many in his party, by crossing the floor to join the governing New Democratic Party to serve in Premier
Glen Clark
's cabinet as Minister of Finance and Minister of Employment, Investment and International Trade. He subsequently folded his party, the PDA.
He ran for the NDP's party leadership at a convention in February 2000, but pulled out of the race shortly before the voting began. He threw his support to candidate Corky Evans
, who in turn lost to Ujjal Dosanjh
. In the 2001 provincial election
, he lost his seat to BC Liberal candidate Harold Long, the Social Credit MLA he himself had defeated in 1991 when running for the BC Liberals.
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 served as leader of the Liberal Party of BC from 1987–1993, leader and founder of the Progressive Democratic Alliance
Progressive Democratic Alliance
The Progressive Democratic Alliance was a centrist political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Powell River—Sunshine Coast....
from 1993–1997, and in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Finance and Minister of Employment, Investment and International Trade. He also ran as a candidate in the 2000 BC New Democratic Party leadership race.
Background
Wilson was born in VancouverVancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, spent his early years in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and returned to British Columbia in the 1970s. He has a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
from the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
, and a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of British Columbia
University 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...
in Resource Economics.
He raised two children with his wife Elizabeth in the Middlepoint area of BC's Sunshine Coast, dabbling in pig farming before teaching Resource Economics and Economic Geography at Capilano College
Capilano College
Capilano University is an undergraduate-focused, public, coeducational, teaching-intensive university located in the District of North Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is enabled by the University Act...
(North Vancouver), where he also served as president of the faculty association.
Political career
In 1987, Wilson took over as leader of the BC Liberal Party, a moribund party that had not elected a member in over a decade. In the 1991 general electionBritish Columbia general election, 1991
The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial 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 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
, Wilson's profile skyrocketed after his highly successful performance in the campaign's televised leaders debate. During a nasty squabble between Social Credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
party leader Rita Johnston
Rita Johnston
Rita Margaret Johnston was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. Johnston became the first female premier in Canadian history when she succeeded William Vander Zalm in 1991 to become the 29th Premier of British Columbia.Much of her early life was spent running a successful trailer park in the...
and BC NDP
New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia is a social-democratic political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the official opposition to the governing British Columbia Liberal Party following the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia.The BC NDP is the provincial...
leader Mike Harcourt
Mike 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....
, Wilson famously pointed out that "here's a classic example of why nothing ever gets done in the province of British Columbia". It would become the campaign's most successful sound bite.
As a consequence, he led the Liberal Party to win 17 seats, its highest total since 1949. They became the Official Opposition in the legislature, relegating the ruling Social Credit Party to a distant third with seven seats. Wilson won his own seat in Powell River-Sunshine Coast
Powell River-Sunshine Coast
Powell River-Sunshine Coast is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.- Demographics :- Member of Legislative Assembly :...
.
In 1993, Wilson's leadership of the Liberals was challenged after it came to light that he was having an extramarital affair with fellow Liberal MLA Judi Tyabji
Judi Tyabji
Judeline Kim Mary "Judi" Tyabji is a former British Columbia politician and the wife of former provincial Leader of the Opposition Gordon Wilson...
, whom he had recently named as the party's House Leader
House Leader
In Canada, each political party with representation in the House of Commons has a House Leader who is a front bench Member of Parliament and an expert in parliamentary procedure...
.
In a Liberal Party leadership review that had been called soon afterward, Wilson was defeated by Vancouver mayor Gordon Campbell. Within weeks, he and Tyabji left the Liberal caucus and formed a new party, the Progressive Democratic Alliance
Progressive Democratic Alliance
The Progressive Democratic Alliance was a centrist political party in British Columbia, Canada founded by Gordon Wilson, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Powell River—Sunshine Coast....
(PDA).
In the 1996 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 1996
The British Columbia general election of 1996 was the thirty sixth provincial 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 April 30, 1996, and held on May 28, 1996...
, Wilson retained his seat, while Tyabji, whom he later married, lost hers.
In 1997, Wilson shocked many in his party, by crossing the floor to join the governing New Democratic Party to serve in Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
Glen Clark
Glen Clark
Glen David Clark is a politician in British Columbia, Canada who served as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from 1996 to 1999.-Early life and education:...
's cabinet as Minister of Finance and Minister of Employment, Investment and International Trade. He subsequently folded his party, the PDA.
He ran for the NDP's party leadership at a convention in February 2000, but pulled out of the race shortly before the voting began. He threw his support to candidate Corky Evans
Corky Evans
Corky Evans was a prominent provincial politician in British Columbia, Canada. He twice ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia, placing second both times. In both cases, the party formed the government of BC and its leader became Premier of British Columbia...
, who in turn lost to 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...
. In the 2001 provincial election
British Columbia general election, 2001
The British Columbia general election of 2001 was the 37th provincial 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 April 18, 2001, and held on May 16, 2001...
, he lost his seat to BC Liberal candidate Harold Long, the Social Credit MLA he himself had defeated in 1991 when running for the BC Liberals.