Mike de Jong
Encyclopedia
Mike de Jong, Q.C.
is a politician from British Columbia
, Canada
.
and Government House Leader, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. He was the British Columbia Liberal Party
MLA for the riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman
, a city in the Fraser Valley
. He sought re-election in the newly-created riding of Abbotsford West
during the 2009 general election, and won.
He previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizen Services, and as Minister of Forests, and was a member of the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001.
de Jong was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
in a 1994 by-election
for the riding of Matsqui. He defeated Social Credit Party
Leader Grace McCarthy
who was attempting to rebuild that political party. Shortly after, McCarthy resigned as Social Credit Party Leader and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.
de Jong was re-elected in the 1996
, 2001
, and 2005 elections
in the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman
, and in the newly created riding of Abbotsford West
in the 2009 election
.
On December 1, 2010, Mike de Jong announced that he would seek the leadership of the BC Liberal Party, in the February 26, 2011 leadership election
. He placed fourth in the leadership election, which was won by Christy Clark
.
Before his election, de Jong was a lawyer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University
in Ottawa
and a law degree from the University of Alberta
.
without compensation to the province. The changes made allowed the wood to be exported as raw logs rather than lumber. It also allowed for its eventual development. The land in question was under dispute by the Hupacasath First Nation
and also the Tseshaht First Nation
. No consultation took place and the bands have since filed legal action. He has also been linked to other such privatizations of Crown forest land.
In 2010 Mike de Jong faced further controversy when as Attorney General he approved the payment of $6 million in legal fees for Liberal Party insiders David Basi and Robert Virk who plead guilty to charges of breach of trust and accepting benefits in connection with the sale of BC Rail in 2003. De Jong defended his actions saying the government's Legal Services Branch had recommended they not try to collect the funds since the aides did not have any money.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
is a politician 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...
, 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...
.
Politics and career
He was appointed Minister of Health Mike de Jong on March 14, 2011. He has previously held the post of Attorney GeneralAttorney 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...
and Government House Leader, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. He was the British Columbia Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The 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...
MLA for the riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman
Abbotsford-Mount Lehman
Abbotsford-Mount Lehman was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada from 2001 to 2009.- Demographics :-1999 Redistribution:Changes from Matsqui to Abbotsford-Mount Lehman include:...
, a city in the Fraser Valley
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
. He sought re-election in the newly-created riding of Abbotsford West
Abbotsford West
Abbotsford West is a provincial electoral district in British Columbia, Canada established by the Electoral Districts Act, 2008. It will come into effect upon the next dissolution of the BC Legislature, currently scheduled for April 2009, and will first be contested in the ensuing election.-...
during the 2009 general election, and won.
He previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizen Services, and as Minister of Forests, and was a member of the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001.
de Jong was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
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 ....
in a 1994 by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
for the riding of Matsqui. He defeated Social Credit Party
British Columbia Social Credit Party
The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...
Leader Grace McCarthy
Grace McCarthy
Grace Mary McCarthy, OC, OBC is a former Canadian politician and florist in British Columbia. Nicknamed Amazing Grace by members of her longtime political party, the Social Credit Party of B.C, she was largely responsible for rebuilding the party after its defeat in the 1972 provincial...
who was attempting to rebuild that political party. Shortly after, McCarthy resigned as Social Credit Party Leader and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.
de Jong was re-elected in the 1996
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...
, 2001
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...
, and 2005 elections
British Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
in the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman
Abbotsford-Mount Lehman
Abbotsford-Mount Lehman was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada from 2001 to 2009.- Demographics :-1999 Redistribution:Changes from Matsqui to Abbotsford-Mount Lehman include:...
, and in the newly created riding of Abbotsford West
Abbotsford West
Abbotsford West is a provincial electoral district in British Columbia, Canada established by the Electoral Districts Act, 2008. It will come into effect upon the next dissolution of the BC Legislature, currently scheduled for April 2009, and will first be contested in the ensuing election.-...
in the 2009 election
British Columbia general election, 2009
The 39th British Columbia general election was held on May 12, 2009 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
.
On December 1, 2010, Mike de Jong announced that he would seek the leadership of the BC Liberal Party, in the February 26, 2011 leadership election
British 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...
. He placed fourth 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...
.
Before his election, de Jong was a lawyer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and a law degree from the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
.
Controversy
In 2004 as Minister of Forests de Jong removed 70 000 hectares of land from TFL 44 with no compensation from the owner and against the recommendations of ministry staff. This effectively privatized what had been Crown LandCrown land
In Commonwealth realms, Crown land is an area belonging to the monarch , the equivalent of an entailed estate that passed with the monarchy and could not be alienated from it....
without compensation to the province. The changes made allowed the wood to be exported as raw logs rather than lumber. It also allowed for its eventual development. The land in question was under dispute by the Hupacasath First Nation
Hupacasath First Nation
The Hupacasath First Nation is a First Nations government based in the Alberni Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. An alternate spelling of Hupacasath is Opetchesaht or Opitchesaht.-See...
and also the Tseshaht First Nation
Tseshaht First Nation
Tseshaht First Nation is an amalgamation of many tribes up and down Alberni Inlet and in the Alberni Valley of central Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. They are a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council which includes all other Nuu-chah-nulth-aht peoples except...
. No consultation took place and the bands have since filed legal action. He has also been linked to other such privatizations of Crown forest land.
In 2010 Mike de Jong faced further controversy when as Attorney General he approved the payment of $6 million in legal fees for Liberal Party insiders David Basi and Robert Virk who plead guilty to charges of breach of trust and accepting benefits in connection with the sale of BC Rail in 2003. De Jong defended his actions saying the government's Legal Services Branch had recommended they not try to collect the funds since the aides did not have any money.
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...
- 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...