John Les

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John Les
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Chilliwack
Chilliwack-Sumas (2001-2009)
In office
May 16, 2001 – May 14, 2013
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded byJohn Martin
Minister of Small Business and Economic Development of British Columbia
In office
January 26, 2004 – June 16, 2005
PremierGordon Campbell
Succeeded byColin Hansen (Economic Development)
Rick Thorpe (Small Business)
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – April 1, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byRich Coleman
Succeeded byJohn van Dongen
Mayor of Chilliwack, British Columbia
In office
1987–1999
Preceded byJohn Jansen
Succeeded by
Personal details
Born1951/1952 (age 69–70)[1]
Political partyLiberal

John Les (born 1951 or 1952) is a Canadian politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for British Columbia. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary for Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) information, Minister of Small Business and Economic Development and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor-General for the Provincial Government.

Les was a member of the Treasury Board and the Priorities and Planning Committee. He has chaired the Government Caucus, the Legislative Special Committee on the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform and the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. He was a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations, the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.

Les served as councillor from 1983 to 1987 and subsequently as mayor of Chilliwack from 1987 to 1999. Before entering politics, he was a partner in a Chilliwack dairy, a real estate agent and the owner of a land development company. He was elected in the 2001 B.C. election representing the British Columbia Liberal Party in the Chilliwack-Sumas riding. He won re-election in the 2005 B.C. election. He was re-elected in the newly created Chilliwack riding in the 2009 election.[2]

On March 28, 2008, John Les resigned from his position as Solicitor General pending the outcome of an investigation over allegations arising from his tenure as Mayor of Chilliwack. A special prosecutor was appointed to look into a land deal that he was alleged to have benefited from.

In June 2010, the investigation was concluded with the special prosecutor stating there was no evidence to suggest that he used his public office to advance his personal interest.[3]

On August 30, 2012, Les announced that he would not seek re-election as MLA for Chilliwack in the 2013 general election.[4]

Election results (partial)[]

Federal[]

1997 Canadian federal election
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Reform Chuck Strahl 33,101 62.85 $57,306
Liberal John Les 11,569 21.96 $63,061
New Democratic Rob Lees 4,680 8.88 $21,339
Progressive Conservative Harry Wiens 1,714 3.25 $6,999
Christian Heritage Rodger N. Brown 1,047 1.98 $23,870
Green Carol Battaglio 342 0.64
Natural Law Patrick Boylan 118 0.22 $5
Independent Sa Tan 95 0.18
Total valid votes 52,666 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 182 0.34
Turnout 52,848 67.02
This riding was re-created from Fraser Valley East and Fraser Valley West, both of which elected a Reform Party candidate. Chuck Strahl was the incumbent from Fraser Valley East.

Provincial[]

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2005 British Columbia general election: Chilliwack-Sumas
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal John Les 11,995 57.36
New Democratic John-Henry Harter 6,477 30.97
Green Norm Siefken 1,731 8.28
Democratic Reform Brian Downey 315 1.51
Youth Coalition Augustine Lee 266 1.27
Moderates Adam James Solheim 127 0.61
Total 20,911 100.00

Notes[]

  1. ^ Sunday shopping Chilliwack's issue: [5* Edition] Barrett, TomView Profile. The Vancouver Sun [Vancouver, B.C] 13 Feb 1987: B7.
  2. ^ "MLA: John Les". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  3. ^ "Ex-BC solicitor general cleared in land deal probe". CBC News. June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  4. ^ "Chilliwack MLA John Les won't run for re-election". Chilliwack Progress. 2012-08-30. Retrieved 2015-05-14.

External links[]


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