Wilf Hurd
Encyclopedia
Wilf Hurd is a Canadian
politician
from British Columbia
. He represented the riding of Surrey-White Rock
for the Liberal Party
as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
, and was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1997 federal election
.
from the University of British Columbia
, and was a communications consultant who worked in public relations for two British Columbia forest companies. He was acclaimed
Liberal candidate in the 1991 provincial election
for the riding of Surrey-White Rock
. He was also a White Rock
alderman for a time. After the Liberals' breakthrough in the election, Hurd was appointed opposition critic for forestry. As shadow forests minister, Hurd was often opposed to Dan Miller
. At times, he was in agreement, such as when both urged the federal government
to make tree spiking
a criminal offense. He was also a proponent of the idea of White Rock
's annexing parts of the neighbouring municipality of Surrey
south of 40th Avenue. His proposal for a study was rejected by Surrey Mayor Bob Bose.
On June 23, 1992, he called
NDP MLA David Schreck a "lap dog of the government" after Schreck rejected a proposal to refer a matter to the select standing committee on health. When NDP MLA's Ujjal Dosanjh
and Barry Jones objected to the term, speaker
Joan Sawicki
asked Hurd to withdraw his words. When he refused, Sawicki ordered him out for the rest of the day. In the aftermath, Hurd promised to make better word choices in the future.
When, due to then-Liberal leader Gordon Wilson
's leadership troubles emerged and a leadership convention
was called, Hurd was the first declared candidate. When the convention was held on September 11, 1993, he finished third-last, with 36 votes. During the campaign Hurd was the only Liberal MLA (along with a former Liberal and former Socred) who attended a private meeting with interim Socred
leader Jack Weisgerber
about forming a "coalition" to bring better opposition to the governing NDP.
On December 1, 1995, opposition leader Gordon Campbell shuffled
the Liberals' opposition shadow cabinet
. Hurd became critic for Education.
In the 1996 general election
, he was acclaimed for re-nomination. He was re-elected in his riding during the election on May 28, 1996. His 18039 votes was one of the highest totals for any candidate. After the election, he became opposition critic for universities.
In 1996, federal Liberal officials approached Hurd about running in the upcoming (1997) federal election
. He announced on January 16, 1997 that he was seeking the Liberal
nomination in the riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Langley
. On March 24, 1997, he was acclaimed as the candidate for that riding and announced that he would remain MLA until required to resign by law. On May 2, he resigned
to become a candidate in the 1997 federal election
for the Liberals
in the riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Langley. Hurd was unsuccessful, finishing behind Val Meredith
.
.
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
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 represented the riding of Surrey-White Rock
Surrey-White Rock
Surrey-White Rock is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. During the 2008 re-distribution of riding boundaries, Surrey-White Rock kept the majority of its existing region.- Demographics :- Geography :...
for the 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...
as a Member of 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 ....
, and was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1997 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
.
Political career
Hurd has a degree in political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
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...
, and was a communications consultant who worked in public relations for two British Columbia forest companies. He was acclaimed
Acclamation
An acclamation, in its most common sense, is a form of election that does not use a ballot. "Acclamation" or "acclamatio" can also signify a kind of ritual greeting and expression of approval in certain social contexts in ancient Rome.-Voting:...
Liberal candidate in the 1991 provincial election
British 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...
for the riding of Surrey-White Rock
Surrey-White Rock
Surrey-White Rock is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. During the 2008 re-distribution of riding boundaries, Surrey-White Rock kept the majority of its existing region.- Demographics :- Geography :...
. He was also a White Rock
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
alderman for a time. After the Liberals' breakthrough in the election, Hurd was appointed opposition critic for forestry. As shadow forests minister, Hurd was often opposed to Dan Miller
Dan Miller
Dan Miller may refer to:* Dan Miller , Middleweight fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship* Dan Miller , former Premier of British Columbia* Dan Miller , former member of the U.S...
. At times, he was in agreement, such as when both urged the federal government
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
to make tree spiking
Tree spiking
Tree spiking involves hammering a metal rod, nail, or other material into a tree trunk to discourage logging by attempting to devalue the commercial use of the wood, reducing the economic viability of logging in the long term, while not threatening the life of the tree...
a criminal offense. He was also a proponent of the idea of White Rock
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
's annexing parts of the neighbouring municipality of Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
south of 40th Avenue. His proposal for a study was rejected by Surrey Mayor Bob Bose.
On June 23, 1992, he called
Unparliamentary language
In a Westminster system, unparliamentary language is words or phrases that are deemed to be inappropriate for use in the House whilst it is in session. This includes, but is not limited to the suggestion of dishonesty or profanity. The most prohibited case is any suggestion that another member is...
NDP MLA David Schreck a "lap dog of the government" after Schreck rejected a proposal to refer a matter to the select standing committee on health. When NDP MLA's 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...
and Barry Jones objected to the term, speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
Joan Sawicki
Joan Sawicki
Joan Marie Sawicki is a former Canadian politician. She served as MLA for the Burnaby-Willingdon riding in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1991 to 2001, as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party....
asked Hurd to withdraw his words. When he refused, Sawicki ordered him out for the rest of the day. In the aftermath, Hurd promised to make better word choices in the future.
When, due to then-Liberal leader Gordon Wilson
Gordon Wilson (Canadian politician)
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...
's leadership troubles emerged and a leadership convention
Leadership convention
In Canadian politics, a leadership convention is held by a political party when the party needs to choose a leader due to a vacancy or a challenge to the incumbent leader.- Overview :...
was called, Hurd was the first declared candidate. When the convention was held on September 11, 1993, he finished third-last, with 36 votes. During the campaign Hurd was the only Liberal MLA (along with a former Liberal and former Socred) who attended a private meeting with interim Socred
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"...
leader Jack Weisgerber
Jack Weisgerber
John Sylvester Weisgerber is a Canadian politician and businessman. He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia. During his political career he was briefly the leader of both the British Columbia Social Credit Party and the Reform Party of British Columbia...
about forming a "coalition" to bring better opposition to the governing NDP.
On December 1, 1995, opposition leader Gordon Campbell shuffled
Cabinet shuffle
In the parliamentary system a cabinet shuffle or reshuffle is an informal term for an event that occurs when a head of government rotates or changes the composition of ministers in their cabinet....
the Liberals' opposition shadow cabinet
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...
. Hurd became critic for Education.
In the 1996 general 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...
, he was acclaimed for re-nomination. He was re-elected in his riding during the election on May 28, 1996. His 18039 votes was one of the highest totals for any candidate. After the election, he became opposition critic for universities.
In 1996, federal Liberal officials approached Hurd about running in the upcoming (1997) federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
. He announced on January 16, 1997 that he was seeking the Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
nomination in the riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Langley
South Surrey—White Rock—Langley
South Surrey—White Rock—Langley was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004.- Geography :...
. On March 24, 1997, he was acclaimed as the candidate for that riding and announced that he would remain MLA until required to resign by law. On May 2, he resigned
Resignation
A resignation is the formal act of giving up or quitting one's office or position. It can also refer to the act of admitting defeat in a game like chess, indicated by the resigning player declaring "I resign", turning his king on its side, extending his hand, or stopping the chess clock...
to become a candidate in the 1997 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1997
The Canadian federal election of 1997 was held on June 2, 1997, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 36th Parliament of Canada. Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party of Canada won a second majority government...
for the Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
in the riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Langley. Hurd was unsuccessful, finishing behind Val Meredith
Val Meredith
Valerie Meredith was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 2004. She was a realtor by career....
.
After politics
After the 1997 election Hurd became director of government relations for Simon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
.