- List of British Columbia by-elections
The list of British Columbia by-elections includes every
by-election held in the Canadian province ofBritish Columbia . By-elections occur whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly, although an imminentgeneral election may allow the vacancy to remain until thedissolution of parliament . The most recent by-election took place onOctober 28 , 2004, in the district ofSurrey-Panorama Ridge .Causes
A by-election occurs whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly. Vacancies can occur for the following reasons:
* Death of a member.cite web|url=http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/stat/C/96066_01.htm|title=Constitution Act|accessdate=2008-02-02] The last time a sitting MLA died was
Fred Gingell in 1999.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/bydls/dls_sov99.pdf|format=PDF|title=Delta South By-election – December 7, 1999 - Statement of Votes|accessdate=2008-02-02|publisher=Elections BC ] In addition, elected MLA's sometimes die before taking their seats. The last time this happened was in 1924 whenJohn McKie died before the first session.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/part4-4.html|title=Elected Candidates Who Did Not Take Their Seats in the Legislature|accessdate=2008-02-02|publisher=Elections BC |work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986]
* Resignation of a member. The last time this happened was in 2004, whenGulzar Cheema resigned.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/byelections/srp04/SOV_By-election_2004_SRP.pdf|accessdate=2008-02-02|title=Surrey-Panorama Ridge By-election Statement of Votes - October 28, 2004|formet=PDF|publisher=Elections BC ] Before 1929, if an MLA was appointed to the Executive Council, they had to resign and run in a by-election.cite web|url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/_media/flash/Purpose.pdf|format=PDF|title=Purpose|work=Discover Your Legislature Series|page=6|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |accessdate=2008-02-02]
* Recall of a member. This has never happened. However, former MLAPaul Reitsma was unofficially recalled because he resigned just as a recall attempt nearly succeeded.cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1998/06/23/reitsma980623a.html|date=1998-11-13|publisher=CBC News |accessdate=2008-02-02|title=Reitsma resigns]
* Voided results. The last time a by-election took place for this reason was in 1904. The most recent any election has come close to being voided was in 1963.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/part4-2.html|title=Voided and Controverted Elections|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-04-07|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986]
* Expulsion from the legislature.
* Ineligibility to sit.
* Winning in more than one district during a general election. The last time that happened was in 1921. It has been forbidden to run in multiple districts since 1940.
* A riding being established during a parliament. The only time a by-election took place because of this was in early 1934, in Columbia.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/18ge1933-4.html|title=By-Elections 18th Parliament|publisher=Elections BC |work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|accessdate=2008-02-13]When there is a vacancy, a by-election must be called within six months of the Chief Electoral Officer learning of it. The only exception is when a member has been recalled. In that case, a by-election must be held with 90 days.
38th Parliament 2005-2009
As of February 2008, there have been no by-elections.
37th Parliament 2001-2005
* Dueck is a former Socred.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/electhistvol2.pdf|page=54|title=Electoral History of British Bolumbia - Supplement, 1987-2001|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-02-17]34rd Parliament 1986-1991
31th Parliament 1975-1979
27th Parliament 1963-1966
There were no by-elections.
26th Parliament 1960-1963
23nd Parliament 1952-1953
These by-elections are held under the alternative vote system, the only two times (as of March 2008) by-elections had been held using that
voting system .cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/23ge1952-6.html|title=By-Elections 23rd Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-02-01] After the next general election, the voting system would be reverted back tofirst past the post in time for the next by-election.20th Parliament 1941-1945
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/18ge1933-4.html|title=By-Elections 18th Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-02-17]17th Parliament 1928-1933
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/15ge1920-4.html|title=By-Elections 15th Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-02-17]14th Parliament 1916-1920
The
Vancouver City by-election was won byMary Ellen Smith . She is the first woman to run and be elected in a provincial-level election, which was also the first one where women could vote.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/14ge1916-3.html|title=By-Elections 24th Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-02-01]† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/12ge1909-3.html|title=By-Elections 12th Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-03-21]11th Parliament 1907-1909
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/9ge1900-2.html|title=By-Elections 9th Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-03-29]8th Parliament 1898-1900
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/6ge1890-2.html|title=By-Elections 6th Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-04-01]5th Parliament 1886-1890
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/3ge1878-2.html|title=By-Elections 3rd Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-04-02]2nd Parliament 1875-1878
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/2ge1875-2.html|title=By-Elections 2nd Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-04-02]1st Parliament 1871-1875
† Won by
acclamation ; this date is the date of the return of the writ.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/electoral_history/1ge1871-2.html|title=By-Elections 1st Parliament|work=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986|publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2008-03-29]ee also
*
List of federal by-elections in Canada References
External links
* [http://www.elections.bc.ca/ Elections BC]
* [http://www.leg.bc.ca/ Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]
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