George Heyman

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The Honourable
George Heyman
MLA
George Heyman portrait.jpg
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy of British Columbia
Assumed office
July 18, 2017
PremierJohn Horgan
Preceded byJordan Sturdy
Minister responsible for TransLink
Assumed office
November 24, 2020
PremierJohn Horgan
Preceded byposition established
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Fairview
Assumed office
May 14, 2013
Preceded byMargaret MacDiarmid
Personal details
BornVancouver
Political partyNew Democratic Party
Professionunion leader
environmentalist

George Heyman is a former social, environmental and labour activist and now a politician in British Columbia. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election,[1] representing the district of Vancouver-Fairview as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party.

Career[]

Heyman was head of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union from 1999 to 2008. He served on the governing panel of administrators of the B.C. Workers’ Compensation Board (Worksafe BC) from 1997 to 2001 and chaired the WCB’s audit committee. From 1998 to 2000 he was a federal government appointee as a governor of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

From April 2009 to December 31, 2012 Heyman served as executive director of the Sierra Club BC. He oversaw the financial and administrative health of the organization as well as being Sierra Club’s primary public spokesperson on issues regarding energy, mining, conservation of species and habitat, climate change, environmental assessment, forest management and sustainable economic alternatives. Effective January 1, 2013, he took a leave of absence to run in the provincial election.

Politics[]

Heyman was nominated on October 21, 2012 as the British Columbia New Democratic Party candidate for Vancouver-Fairview in the 2013 provincial election.[2]

The nominating contest was described by Norman Ruff, professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, as a "clash of titans." Heyman defeated high profile Vancouver city councillor Geoff Meggs.[2] While both candidates were considered potential cabinet material, The Globe and Mail reported that Heyman had "the right stuff to be a power player" in an NDP government.[2]

Heyman won the seat on election day, defeating BC Liberal cabinet minister Margaret MacDiarmid.[1]

He previously served as the opposition spokesperson for the environment, green economy and technology. Until February 2016 he also held responsibility for film, television and Translink.

On July 18, 2017 Heyman was appointed the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in the newly formed NDP government.[3]

Heyman was re-elected at the 2020 general election, as the NDP achieved a majority government. Following the election, on November 24, 2020 he was given the additional role of Minister responsible for TransLink in the second cabinet of Premier John Horgan.

Electoral record[]

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2020 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic George Heyman 15,538 56.07 +1.95 $42,472.54
Liberal George Affleck 7,570 27.32 −4.53 $52,688.01
Green Ian Goldman 4,368 15.76 +2.23 $1,481.40
Libertarian Sandra Filosof-Schipper 234 0.84 – $0.00
Total valid votes 27,710 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 318 1.13 +0.45
Turnout 28,028 61.08 −4.71
Registered voters 45,991
New Democratic hold Swing +3.24
Source: Elections BC[4][5]
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2017 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic George Heyman 16,035 54.12 +6.80 $67,813
Liberal Gabe Garfinkel 9,436 31.85 -10.41 $66,722
Green Louise Boutin 4,007 13.53 +3.11 $437
Your Political Party Joey Doyle 149 0.50 – $344
Total valid votes 29,627 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 204 0.68 -0.14
Turnout 29,831 65.79 +6.81
Registered voters 45,343
Source: Elections BC[6][7]
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2013 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes %
New Democratic George Heyman 12,649 47.32
Liberal Margaret MacDiarmid 11,298 42.26
Green Matthew Pedley 2,785 10.42
Total valid votes 26,732 100.00
Total rejected ballots 220 0.82
Turnout 26,952 58.98
Source: Elections BC[8]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Riding results: New Democrat George Heyman wins a narrow victory in Vancouver Fairview". Vancouver Sun, May 14, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "George Heyman has right stuff to be power player for NDP if elected". The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2012.
  3. ^ "Environmentalists rejoice as George Heyman becomes minister of environment and climate change | Vancouver Sun".
  4. ^ "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 30 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  6. ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.

External links[]

British Columbia provincial government of John Horgan
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Jordan Sturdy Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy
July 18, 2017– 		Incumbent
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