George Heyman

George Heyman is a social, environmental and labour activist and politician in British Columbia. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election,[1] representing the district of Vancouver-Fairview as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party.


George Heyman

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy of British Columbia
Assumed office
July 18, 2017
PremierJohn Horgan
Preceded byJordan Sturdy
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Fairview
Assumed office
May 14, 2013
Preceded byMargaret MacDiarmid
Personal details
BornVancouver
Political partyNew Democratic Party
Professionunion leader

Career

Heyman was head of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union from 1999 to 2008. He served on the governing panel of administrators of the B.C. Workers’ Compensation Board (Worksafe BC) from 1997 to 2001 and chaired the WCB’s audit committee. From 1998 to 2000 he was a federal government appointee as a governor of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

From April 2009 to December 31, 2012 Heyman served as executive director of the Sierra Club BC. He oversaw the financial and administrative health of the organization as well as being Sierra Club’s primary public spokesperson on issues regarding energy, mining, conservation of species and habitat, climate change, environmental assessment, forest management and sustainable economic alternatives. Effective January 1, 2013, he took a leave of absence to run in the provincial election.

Politics

Heyman was nominated on October 21, 2012 as the British Columbia New Democratic Party candidate for Vancouver-Fairview in the 2013 provincial election.[2]

The nominating contest was described by Norman Ruff, professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, as a "clash of titans." Heyman defeated high profile Vancouver city councillor Geoff Meggs.[2] While both candidates were considered potential cabinet material, The Globe and Mail reported that Heyman had "the right stuff to be a power player" in an NDP government.[2]

Heyman won the seat on election day, defeating BC Liberal cabinet minister Margaret MacDiarmid.[1]

He previously served as the opposition spokesperson for the environment, green economy and technology. Until February 2016 he also held responsibility for film, television and Translink.

On July 18, 2017 Heyman was appointed the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in the newly formed NDP government.[3]

Electoral record

2020 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticGeorge Heyman15,53856.07+1.95
LiberalGeorge Affleck7,57027.32–4.53
GreenIan Goldman4,36815.76+2.23
LibertarianSandra Filosof-Schipper2340.84
Total valid votes 27,710100.00
Total rejected ballots   
Turnout   
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[4]
2017 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticGeorge Heyman16,03554.12+6.8$67,813
LiberalGabe Garfinkel9,43631.85-10.41$66,722
GreenLouise Boutin4,00713.53+3.11$437
Your Political PartyJoey Doyle1490.50$344
Total valid votes 29,627100.00
Total rejected ballots 2040.68-0.14
Turnout 29,83165.79+6.81
Registered voters 45,343
Source: Elections BC[5][6]
2013 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes%
New DemocraticGeorge Heyman12,64947.32
LiberalMargaret MacDiarmid11,29842.26
GreenMatthew Pedley2,78510.42
Total valid votes 26,732100.00
Total rejected ballots 2200.82
Turnout 26,95258.98
Source: Elections BC[7]

References

British Columbia provincial government of John Horgan
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Jordan Sturdy Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Strategy
July 18, 2017–
Incumbent
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