Gordon Wilson (Canadian politician)

Gordon Wilson (born 1949) 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.

Background

Wilson was born in Vancouver, spent his early years in Kenya and returned to British Columbia in the 1970s.^[1] 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.^[1]

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.

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 election, 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".^[2] 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.^{[3] [4]} 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.^[4]

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.^[3][4] 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.

Other work

He has written A Civilized Revolution (1994) about his views on politics and public policy, and wrote, directed and produced Serving Thyme, a television comedy based on the west coast. After leaving politics, Wilson settled back in Powell River, and became chairman of the board of a software company.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Hon. Gordon Wilson - Members at dissolution of 36th Parliament". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. 18 April 2001. http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/36thparl/wilsong.htm. Retrieved 23 August 2010. 
2. ^ "1991: Gordon Wilson's debate triumph - CBC Archives". CBC.ca (CBC News). http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/provincial_territorial_politics/clips/11308/. Retrieved 23 August 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Kamath, A P (18 November 1999). "More 'Desi' Connections In BC Election". Rediff.com. http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/nov/18us.htm. Retrieved 23 August 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Hunter, Jennifer (1 March 1999). "Wilson Joins BC's NDP - The Canadian Encyclopedia". The Canadian Encyclopedia. The Historica Dominion Institute. http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=M1ARTM0011913. Retrieved 23 August 2010. 

Preceded by Art Lee

BC Liberal Leaders 1987-1993

Succeeded by Gordon Campbell

Preceded by Michael Harcourt

Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia 1991-1993

Succeeded by Gordon Campbell

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Name	Wilson, Gordon
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Date of birth	1949
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