Wilf Hurd

Wilf Hurd (born July 22 1950) is a Canadian politician from British Columbia. He represented the riding of Surrey-White Rock for the Liberal Party as Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, and was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1997 federal election.

Political career

Hurd, who has a degree in political science from the University of British Columbia, was a communications consultant and 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.cite news|title=Communications advisor will run for Liberals|page=A14|date=1990-06-09|publisher=Vancouver Sun] He was also a White Rock alderman for a time.cite news|date=1991-10-8|title=Johnston has fight on her hands in Surrey-Newton|page=A11|publisher=Vancouver Sun|author=Harold Munro] After the Liberal's breakthrough in the election he was appointed opposition critic for forestry.cite news|date=1991-11-08|title=Shadow cabinet boasts expertise|page=B4|publisher=Vancouver Sun] 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.cite news|title='Make tree-spiking a criminal offence'|author=Barbara McLintock|publisher=Vancouver Province|page=A12|date=1994-04-14] He was also a proponent of the idea of White Rock annexing parts of the neighbouring municipality of Surrey south of 40th Avenue. His proposal for a study was rejected by Surrey Mayor Bob Bose.cite news|author=Paul Chapman|title=Let White Rock annex a chunk of Surrey: MLA: No way, says Surrey mayor|date=1992-07-23|page=A4|publisher=Vancouver Province]

On June 23, 1992, he called NDP MLA David Schrenkcite news|author=Justine Hunter|title=MLA hounded over 'lapdog' remark|publisher=Vancouver Sun|page=B3|date=1992-06-24] "a lap dog of the government"cite web|url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/35th1st/h0623pm.htm|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|work=Official Report of the DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (Hansard)|date=1992-06-23|accessdate=2008-04-14|pages=2927|title=Afternoon Sitting, Volume 5, Number 1] after the latter 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.cite web|url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard/35th1st/h0623pm.htm|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|work=Official Report of the DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (Hansard)|date=1992-06-23|accessdate=2008-04-14|pages=2927-28|title=Afternoon Sitting, Volume 5, Number 1] In the aftermath, Hurd promised to make better word choices in the future.

When, due to then-Liberal leader Gordon Wilson leadership troubles emerged and a leadership convention was called, Hurd was the first declared candidate.cite news|date=1993-03-16|author=Don Hauka|page=A7|publisher=Vancouver Province|title=MLA eyeing leadership] When the convention was held on September 11, 1993, he finishedthird-last, with 36 votes.cite news|year=1993-09-12|title=Campbell rides Grit wave" First ballot victory for mayor|page=A4|publisher=Vancouver Province|author=Barbara McLintock & Tom Hawthorn] During the campaign, he 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.cite news|author=Keith Baldrey|date=1993-05-07|page=B3|publisher=Vancouver Sun|title=Few Liberals at coalition meeting]

On December 1 1995, opposition leader Gordon Campbell shuffled the Liberals' opposition shadow cabinet. Hurd became critic for Education.cite news|date=1995-12-01|page=B7|publisher=Vancouver Sun|title=Campbell shuffles Liberal shadow-cabinet lineup]

In the 1996 general election, he was acclaimed for re-nomination.cite news|date=1996-04-11|page=B1|publisher=Vancouver Sun|author=Doug Ward & Kim Bolan|title=Accusations of 'dirty tricks' follow Liberal nomination] He was re-elected in his riding during the election on May 28 1996.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/sov96/elect_mem.htm|title=Elected Members|publisher=Elections BC|work=Statement of Votes - 36th Provincial General Election - May 28, 1996|accessdate=2008-04-16] His 18039 votes was one of the highest totals for any candidate.cite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/sov96/edsumm.htm|title=Summary of Results by Electoral District|work=Statement of Votes - 36th Provincial General Election - May 28, 1996|publisher=Elections BC|accessdate=2008-04-16] After the election, he became opposition critic for universities.cite news|date=1996-06-21|title=All 32 Liberal MLAs join 'shadow cabinet': The party's budget for support staff and research will increase to $2.2 million annually|page=B3|publisher=Vancouver Sun]

Sometime in 1996, federal Liberal officials approached Hurd about running in the upcoming federal election. He announced on January 16 1997 that he was seeking the Liberal nomination in the riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Langley.cite news|date=1997-01-18|title=Liberal MLA seeks federal nomination for new riding|publisher=Vancouver Sun|page=A19] 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.cite news|title=Hurd to run federally, but keeps MLA job for now|author=Ian Mulgrew|date=1997-03-25|publisher=Vancouver Sun|page=B3] On May 2, he resigned to become a candidate in the 1997 federal electioncite web|url=http://www.elections.bc.ca/elections/byswr/swr-sov97.pdf|page=1|title=Statement of Votes Surrey-White Rock By-Election September 15, 1997|publisher=Elections BC|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-04-11] for the Liberals in the riding of South Surrey—White Rock—Langley. Hurd was unsuccessful, finishing second behind Val Meredith.cite web|url=http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?section=gen&document=res_table1210&dir=rep/dec3097&lang=e&anchor=so&textonly=false#so|title=List of candidates by electoral district and individual results|publisher=Elections Canada|work=Thirty-sixth General Election 1997: Official Voting Results: Synopsis|accessdate=2008-04-11]

After politics

After the election, Hurd became the director of government relations for Simon Fraser University.cite web|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20020819174514/http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/sfu_news/sfunews03210213.html|archivedate=2002-08-19|url=http://www.sfu.ca/mediapr/sfu_news/sfunews03210213.html|title=Ex-MLA named director|author=Howard Fluxgold|accessdate=2008-04-11]

References