Kevin Falcon
Kevin Falcon (born 1963[1]) is a Canadian financial executive and a provincial politician who is the leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party as of 2022, and the Leader of the Opposition as of May 2022.[2] He is the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the district of Vancouver-Quilchena, being elected in a byelection in April 2022. He formerly served as the MLA for Surrey-Cloverdale as a member of the BC Liberals from 2001 to 2013. He served as both the 12th deputy premier of British Columbia, and the province's minister of Finance.[3] On April 30, he was elected as MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena in a by-election.[4]
Kevin Falcon | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia | |
| Assumed office May 16, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Shirley Bond |
| Leader of the BC Liberal Party | |
| Assumed office February 5, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Shirley Bond (interim) |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Quilchena | |
| Assumed office April 30, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Wilkinson |
| 12th Deputy Premier of British Columbia | |
| In office March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012 | |
| Premier | Christy Clark |
| Preceded by | Colin Hansen |
| Succeeded by | Rich Coleman |
| Minister of Finance of British Columbia | |
| In office March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012 | |
| Premier | Christy Clark |
| Preceded by | Colin Hansen |
| Succeeded by | Mike de Jong |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Surrey-Cloverdale | |
| In office May 16, 2001 – April 16, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Bonnie McKinnon |
| Succeeded by | Stephanie Cadieux |
| Minister of Health Services of British Columbia | |
| In office June 10, 2009 – November 30, 2010 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | George Abbott |
| Succeeded by | Colin Hansen |
| Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of British Columbia | |
| In office January 26, 2004 – June 10, 2009 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | Judith Reid |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Bond |
| Minister of State for Deregulation of British Columbia | |
| In office June 5, 2001 – January 26, 2004 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Rick Thorpe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 59–60) West Vancouver |
| Political party | BC Liberal |
| Residence | Surrey, British Columbia |
| Occupation | Financial executive |
Personal life
Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Falcon worked in insurance after graduating from a private Catholic high school Vancouver College. Falcon holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University (SFU).[1] He lives in North Vancouver with his wife Jessica and daughters Josephine and Rose.[5]
Early political career (1980s–2013)
After being involved with the Social Credit (Socred) party in the 1980s, Falcon decided to study political science at SFU. He was a member of the Young Socreds on campus while future Premier Christy Clark was also at SFU.[1]
After graduation, he was part of a movement to revitalize the right-wing municipal party in Surrey that saw Doug McCallum upset incumbent mayor Bob Bose of the NDP-affiliated Surrey Civic Electors party in 1996 and the election to council of future mayor Dianne Watts.[1]
Falcon then set up a communications consultancy (Access Group) in 1998. His major step into provincial politics was as a lead organizer of the "Total Recall" effort to recall a number of BC New Democratic Party MLA's in 1999.[6]
After replacing incumbent Bonnie McKinnon as the Liberal nominee, he was first elected in 2001 as a BC Liberal to represent the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale, and re-elected in the 2005, and 2009 elections.[7]
His first cabinet appointment was in the newly created position of Minister of State for Deregulation which earned kudos from business and industry for cutting government 'red tape.'[citation needed] In January 2004, after police "raided" the legislature to investigate corruption in the sale of BC Rail, Falcon replaced Judith Reid as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.[citation needed]
As transport minister, Falcon changed the governance structure of TransLink to reduce the oversight by municipal representatives. He also introduced the Gateway Program, a $3 billion regional transportation strategy for Metro Vancouver that launched the construction of the new Port Mann Bridge.[citation needed]
In June 2009, Falcon was appointed as Minister of Health.
On November 3, 2010, Premier Gordon Campbell announced that he would step down as Premier of British Columbia once his successor was chosen. On November 30, 2010, Falcon launched his campaign for the 2011 BC Liberal Party leadership.[8]
On December 11, the Vancouver Sun reported that Falcon's social media traffic was the highest of declared candidates.[9] Falcon's leadership campaign focused on “returning BC to a fiscally responsible path” in the aftermath of the global economic crisis.[10]
On February 26, 2011, Falcon narrowly lost his bid to become the Liberal leader, and the province's Premier, to Christy Clark by a margin of 52%-48% in the third round of voting by party members.
Christy Clark, the new Premier, included Falcon in her new cabinet by appointing him as Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier. In August 2012, expecting the birth of his second daughter Rose, Falcon indicated he would not run in the 2013 election.[11]
Break from politics (2013–2021)
After leaving the legislature, Falcon joined Vancouver-based Anthem Capital as their Executive Vice President.[12] Additionally, Falcon took on a number of volunteer roles with non-profit organizations including the Canuck Place Foundation, Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and the Streetohome Foundation. He was also named as an honorary director of the Surrey Board of Trade.[13]
Return to politics (2021–present)
BC Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson announced his resignation on October 26 2020.[14] He officially resigned on February 17 2021, triggering a year-long BC Liberal leadership race.[15] Falcon officially joined the race a month later.[16] In his launch speech, Falcon committed to renaming the BC Liberal Party in consultation with members to better reflect the party's values.[17]
On October 31, 2021, Diamond Isinger, campaign manager for fellow leadership candidate Michael Lee, shared a statement about an "incident of sexual & personal harassment" with a Falcon campaign staffer. Insinger said she went public with her allegations "due to the lack of action taken" after addressing her concerns privately with the Falcon campaign. Falcon fired the staffer the day after Isinger's statement.[18]
Falcon won the leadership on February 5, 2022, crossing the 50% threshold required to win on the fifth ballot.[2] Following Falcon's win, Andrew Wilkinson formally resigned as an MLA to free up his seat in Vancouver-Quilchena for Falcon to run.[19] A by-election for the riding was called on April 2, 2022.[20] Falcon won the byelection, being elected MLA for the riding.[21]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d McMartin, Will (10 Feb 2011). "For Kevin Falcon, Next Stop Premier?". The Tyee. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ a b Meissner, Dirk and Brieanna Charlebois (5 February 2022). "Former cabinet minister Kevin Falcon wins B.C. Liberal leadership race on 5th ballot". CBC News. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ "Christy Clark sworn in as B.C. premier". The Globe and Mail, March 14, 2011.
- ^ "Kevin Falcon takes Vancouver by-election for seat in B.C. legislature". Chilliwack Progress. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
- ^ "Kevin Falcon". Lions Gate Hospital Foundation. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
- ^ "BC recall not so easy". rabble.ca.
- ^ "Official Biography: Kevin Falcon". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
- ^ "Falcon joins B.C. Liberal leadership race". CTVNews. 30 November 2010.
- ^ Shaw, Gillian (2010-12-11). . Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on 2010-12-03. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
- ^ Falcon, Kevin (17 May 2021). "Meet Kevin Falcon". kevinfalcon.ca. Kevin Falcon Leadership Campaign. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
“My priority was managing through the economic fallout from the global financial crisis and returning BC to a fiscally responsible path. I’m dedicated to once again committing to making BC’s economy a leader in Canada’s post-pandemic economic recovery.”
- ^ Stueck, Wendy (29 August 2012). "Resignation forces B.C cabinet overhaul". Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
- ^ Falcon, Kevin (17 May 2021). "Meet Kevin Falcon". kevinfalcon.ca. Kevin Falcon Leadership Campaign. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
In 2013, I joined Anthem Capital and have overseen a portfolio of investments in everything from mining, technology, craft beer and housing development.
- ^ Falcon, Kevin (17 May 2021). "Meet Kevin Falcon - Life after Politics". kevinfalcon.ca. Kevin Falcon Leadership Campaign. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
I continued my work in community service with several non-profit organizations, including the Canuck Place Foundation, the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, and the Streetohome Foundation, an organization that works to house the homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
- ^ Ross, Andrea (26 October 2020). "Andrew Wilkinson resigning as B.C. Liberal leader after worst party showing in decades". CBC News. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ DeRosa, Katie (17 February 2021). "Andrew Wilkinson formally resigns as B.C. Liberal leader, triggering leadership vote". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ Zussman, Richard (17 May 2021). "Kevin Falcon officially joins the BC Liberal leadership race". Global News. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ Palmer, Vaughn (18 May 2021). "Vaughn Palmer: It will be tough for Falcon to get a consensus on renaming B.C. Liberals". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ Grochowski, Sarah (1 November 2021). "Liberal leadership contender Kevin Falcon fires campaign aide amid sexual harassment allegations". Vancouver Sun.
- ^ Zussman, Richard (17 February 2021). "Andrew Wilkinson formally resigns as BC Liberal leader months after election defeat". Global News. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ Little, Simon (2 April 2022). "New BC Liberal leader to get first shot at seat as byelection called for April 30". Global News. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
- ^ "BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon wins Vancouver-Quilchena byelection". Global News.
External links
- Official Biography, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia