Through the Elections: BC CCF and NDP MPs

When the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was founded in 1932 the idea was to create a national movement that could fight for ordinary people at both the federal and provincial levels. Electing MPs was of equal importance to electing MLAs. In fact, when you joined the BC CCF or the NDP, you were and still are automatically a member of both the federal and the provincial party.

In BC, the first CCF MPs were elected in 1935, and since that time there has been a total of 77 CCF and NDP men and women serving as Members of Parliament. Here is the list, by year elected, including information about who was the party’s national leader and the share of vote achieved by the CCF/NDP in BC.

1935

CCF Caucus – J.S. Woodsworth, Leader
While the CCF was represented in the previous parliament by one CCF MP (Angus MacInnis, who was elected as an Independent but moved to the fledgling CCF in 1932), this election was the first time CCF MPs were elected in BC – three in all after the party took 32.7% of the vote provincially compared with 9.32% across Canada. Nationally, the party held seven seats after the 1935 campaign.
The BC CCF team
  • MacINNIS, Angus | Vancouver South, 1932-35; Vancouver East, 1935-53; Vancouver Kingsway, 1953-57. Auto mechanic, street car driver, union leader, school trustee, alderman. This one is a bit complicated: he was elected in Vancouver South as Independent Labour MP in 1930; but after helping with the formation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, he sat as a CCF MP for the remainder of that term. Then, for the 1935 election, he moved to Vancouver East, representing that riding for 18 years. Finally, for the 1953 election, MacInnis moved to the Vancouver Kingsway riding for one term (he was replaced in Vancouver East by Harold Winch who held that seat).
  • MacNEIL, Charles Grant – Vancouver Centre, 1935-40. Assistant/secretary; in 1940 moved to the Vancouver North riding; the CCF lost in both ridings.
  • TAYLOR, James Samuel | Nanaimo, 1935-1940. Assistant/secretary; became in Independent in 1937; he did not run again in 1940 and the CCF lost the seat.

    1940

    CCF Caucus – J.S. Woodsworth

    No new CCF MPs were elected in BC and the party was down to a single BC representative as Angus MacInnis was re-elected in Vancouver East. The CCF vote declined to 28.8% in BC and 8.2% nationally.

    The BC CCF team

    Re-elected MLAs:

    • MacINNIS, Angus | Vancouver East, 1935-53.

      1945

      CCF Caucus – M.J. Coldwell, Leader

      The upswing! While the CCF’s vote in BC increased by less than a single percentage point to 29.4% (though it almost doubled nationally to 15.55%), three new CCF MPs were added. Or was it four? Or was it actually five? Let’s explain: on election night, three “official” CCF candidates were declared winners, a fourth “independent” CCF MP (Bert Herridge) wasn’t included in the CCF count until later (we’ll explain below). Then, in a 1948 byelection, another CCF candidate was elected.

      The BC CCF team

      New MPs:

      • ARCHIBALD, Harry Grenfell | Skeena, 1945-49. Seaman; defeated in the ’49 election.
      • IRVINE, William | Cariboo, 1945-49. Editor; defeated in the ’49 election.
      • MATTHEWS, James Herbert | Kootenay East, 1945-49. Minister/Clergyman; defeated in the ’49 election.

      Counted as CCF later:

      • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68. Tree farmer and former MLA for Rossland-Trail. Here’s the story: Herridge resigned his provincial seat in order to run federally as the CCF candidate in Kootenay West; but that violated an order of the British Columbia Council of the CCF. As a result, he was expelled from the party and ran instead as an independent “People’s CCF” candidate and beat everyone, including the official CCF candidate who finished fourth. In 1948, Herridge was readmitted into the CCF and everyone lived happily ever after.  Herridege retired in 1968, and was replaced by the NDP’s Randolph Harding.

      Re-elected MPs:

      • MacINNIS, Angus | Vancouver East, 1935-53.

      Byelection wins:

      • YOUNG, Rodney | Vancouver Centre, 1948-49. Student; defeated in the ’49 election.

      1949

      CCF Caucus – M.J. Coldwell, Leader

      The BC CCF’s seat count was reduced to three MPs, with one new MP joining MacInnis and Herridge. This happened despite the CCF increasing its vote percentage in BC by more than three percentage points, up to 31.5% (nationally we dropped two points to 13.42%).

      The BC CCF team

      New MPs:

      • JONES, Owen Lewis | Yale, 1949-53; Okanagan Boundary, 1953-57. Small business owner-operator; defeated in the ’57 election.

      Re-elected MPs:

      • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68.
      • MacINNIS, Angus | Vancouver Kingsway, 1935-57.

        An NDP First: Frank Calder is Elected

        In 1949 Frank became the first Indigenous person ever elected to a Canadian Legislature.  He was the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation MLA for Atlin.

        Frank was re-elected three times for the CCF and in 1963 became the NDP’s first Indigenous MLA.  He was a Minister without Portfolio in the NDP government 1972-75 and dedicated his life to restoring land title to his Nisga’a First Nation.

        Frank Calder, the first Indigenous person elected to a Canadian legislature

        1953

        CCF Caucus – M.J. Coldwell, Leader

        This election delivered 23 seats for the CCF, seven of which were in British Columbia, meaning four first-time CCF MPs were elected. This happened despite the party’s vote percentage shrinking federally (down to 11.28%) and provincially (26.6%).

        The BC CCF team

        New MPs

        • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974. A former millworker, his 1969 win came via a byelection and he then retired at the conclusion of his term. As a result, the now-NDP lost the seat in 1974.
        • CAMERON, Colin | Nanaimo, 1953-58, 1962-69. The former pipe-fitter, political economist and MLA unfortunately passed away in office; Tommy Douglas won the seat in a byelection.
        • REGIER, Erhart | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1953-62. After nine years in office, he gave up his seat following the founding of the NDP for its new leader, Tommy Douglas.
        • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72. The former leader of the BC CCF stayed in office for 19 years before retiring.

        Re-elected MPs:

        • JONES, Owen Lewis | Okanagan Boundary, 1953-57.
        • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68.
        • MacINNIS, Angus | Vancouver Kingsway, 1953-57.

          1957

          CCF Caucus – M.J. Coldwell, Leader

          In a Diefenbaker Conservative minority parliament, the CCF gained two more seats to 25 nationally, staying at seven seats in BC – including two new MPs. The party’s vote percentage continued to decline, down to 22.6% provincially and 10.50 nationally.

          The BC CCF team

          New MPs:

          • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74. The former logger, union official and MLA won seven federal elections before losing his seat in 1974; he subsequently served as a BC MLA for seven years.
          • MacDONALD, Alex | Vancouver Kingsway, 1957-58. A single year in office before losing in the 1958 general election; went on to a very successful career in BC politics.

          Re-elected MPs:

          • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974.
          • CAMERON, Colin | Nanaimo, 1953-58, 1962-69.
          • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68
          • REGIER, Erhart | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1953-62.
          • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

             

            1958

            CCF Caucus – M.J. Coldwell, Leader

            After the second-shortest parliament in Canadian history, the country elected the largest majority government in Canadian history. And the CCF was caught up in it all, as it dropped to eight seats nationally and four seats in BC. Always the progressive stalwart, the CCF’s vote percentage actually increased to 24.5% provincially.

            The BC CCF team

            Re-elected MPs:

            • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68.
            • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74.
            • REGIER, Erhart | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1953-62.
            • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

            1962

            NDP Caucus – Tommy Douglas, Leader

            The New Democratic was founded in 1961 by the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Canadian Labour Congress following years of negotiations between the two to bring about an alliance between organized labour and the political left in Canada. And the results showed in BC with the following year’s general election.

            Provincially, the new party scored more seats than the CCF had with nine MPs elected, including four first-time representatives, after garnering 30.9% of the vote. Nationally, the NDP elected 19 with 13.57% of the vote.

            The BC NDP team

            New MPs:

            • BERGER, Thomas Rodney | Vancouver Burrard, 1962-63. The lawyer ran again in 1963 but lost his seat.
            • MATHER, Barry | New Westminster, 1962-68; Surrey, 1968-72; Surrey-White Rock, 1972-74. The former newspaper writer retired before the ’74 election, and the NDP lost the seat.
            • PRITTIE, R.W. Bob | Burnaby-Richmond, 1962-68. The former teacher ran in ’68 but lost his seat.
            • WEBSTER, Arnold Alexander | Vancouver Kingsway, 1962-65. The high school principal and former MLA retired in 1965 – his seat was won by Grace MacInnis.

            Re-elected MPs:

            • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68.
            • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74.
            • REGIER, Erhart | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1953-62 (he won the ’62 election but resigned his seat shortly after – see the byelection below).
            • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

            Coming back:

            • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974.
            • CAMERON, Colin | Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1962-69.

            Byelection:

            • DOUGLAS, Tommy | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1962-68; Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1969-1979. Four months after the general election, Erhart Regier stepped down, opening up the riding for a Douglas victory. Douglas had been unable to win a seat in Regina in the general.

            An NDP First: Dave Barrett is Elected

            Dave Barrett was elected as CCF MLA for Dewdney in 1960 and as NDP MLA for Dewdney, then Coquitlam and Vancouver East.

            He became Leader of the Opposition in 1970, and in 1972 won election as the first NDP Premier in British Columbia, and the first Jewish Premier of any Canadian province.  Dave was a lifelong unabashed democratic socialist.  Many of his government’s reforms from 1972 to 1975 continue to serve British Columbians today.

            BC NDP MLA, Leader and Premier, Dave Barrett

            1963

            NDP Caucus – Tommy Douglas, Leader

            The middle of three straight minority governments, this election no new NDP MPs from BC, but nine of ten incumbents were re-elected. Vote percentages also stayed consistent provincially (30.3%) and nationally (13.22%).

            The BC NDP team

            Re-elected MPs:

            • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974.
            • CAMERON, Colin | Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1962-69.
            • DOUGLAS, Tommy | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1962-68; Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1969-1979.
            • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68.
            • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74.
            • MATHER, Barry | New Westminster, 1962-68; Surrey, 1968-72; Surrey-White Rock, 1972-74.
            • PRITTIE, R.W. Bob | Burnaby-Richmond, 1962-68.
            • WEBSTER, Arnold Alexander | Vancouver Kingsway, 1962-65.
            • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

                1965

                NDP Caucus – Tommy Douglas, Leader

                Again, another minority. And, again, very little change for the NDP. Provincially, the party held onto its nine seats (with one change in a byelection shortly after the general), garnering 32.9% of the vote. On the national scene, the NDP gained four seats (to 21 from 17) and pulled a then-record 17.83% of the vote.

                The BC NDP team

                Re-elected MPs:

                • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974.
                • CAMERON, Colin | Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1962-69.
                • DOUGLAS, Tommy | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1962-68; Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1969-1979.
                • HERRIDGE, Herbert Wilfred | Kootenay West, 1945-68.
                • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74.
                • MATHER, Barry | New Westminster, 1962-68; Surrey, 1968-72; Surrey-White Rock, 1972-74.
                • PRITTIE, R.W. Bob | Burnaby-Richmond, 1962-68.
                • WEBSTER, Arnold Alexander | Vancouver Kingsway, 1962-65.
                • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

                Byelection:

                • MacINNIS, Grace | Vancouver Kingsway, 1965-74 (replacing Arnold Webster, who resigned the seat shortly after the general).

                An NDP First: Eileen Dailly Elected

                Margaret Hobbs was the first woman NDP MLA, winning a by-election in Revelstoke in 1962, but losing the following year.  Lois Haggen served in Grand Forks-Greenwood from 1963-1966.

                And in 1966 Eileen Dailly was elected in Burnaby North.  Eileen served as MLA for 20 years, and was Minister of Education in the Barrett government and the first woman to serve as Deputy Leader/Premier of a Canadian political party.

                NDP MLA Eileen Dailly

                1968

                NDP Caucus – Tommy Douglas, Leader

                Lots happening in the hey-day of the 1960’s counterculture. Chief among them: Trudeaumania. Elected leader of the Liberal Party in early 1968, Pierre Elliot Trudeau stormed the campaign, presenting a stark contrast from predecessor Lester B Pearson. Voters were caught up in the wave, particularly younger voters seeking a more small-l liberal vision for Canada. Of small note here, Trudeau at one point spent some time in the CCF.

                Meanwhile, the NDP continued to move forward nationally, up one seat to 22 (with a 16.96% vote share), provincially the party took a setback – down to seven seats including two new MPs (32.6% of the vote). But wait, there’s more. Did we say seven seats? That soon became eight. Turns out in Comox-Alberni, which Liberal Richard Durante won be a mere nine votes over the NDP’s Tom Barnett, several irregularities were discovered after the fact, and the result was declared void. Barnett went on to beat Durante in a byelection rematch in April of 1969.

                Also of interest in this parliament, Nanaimo’s Colin Cameron sadly passed away in office and was replaced by leader Tommy Douglas after he won a February ’69 byelection. Douglas had narrowly lost his seat in Burnaby-Coquitlam in the ’68 campaign, and initially resisted the insistent call from the party to run in that by-election, preferring a local candidate run. But when no one stepped up, Douglas ran and won.

                The BC NDP team

                New MPs:

                • HARDING, Randolph | Kootenay West, 1968-74. Defeated in the ’74 campaign.
                • ROSE, Mark | Fraser Valley West, 1968-74; Mission-Port Moody, 1979-83. The former education professor resigned his seat in 1983 to run successfully run provincially – the party lost the ensuing federal byelection.

                Re-elected MPs:

                • CAMERON, Colin | Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1962-69.
                • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74.
                • MacINNIS, Grace | Vancouver Kingsway, 1965-74
                • MATHER, Barry | New Westminster, 1962-68; Surrey, 1968-72; Surrey-White Rock, 1972-74.
                • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

                Coming back:

                • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974 (won in a byelection after the general election for this riding was voided).
                • DOUGLAS, Tommy | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1962-68; Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1969-1979 (won a byelection following the passing of Colin Cameron).

                  1972

                  NDP Caucus – David Lewis, Leader

                  The 1972 election may have resulted in another minority government but it was also marked by big NDP gains. The party elected 31 MPs off a national vote of 17.83%, with BC contributing 11 seats from a 35.0% vote percentage.

                  The BC NDP team

                  New MPs:

                  • LEGGATT, Stuart Malcolm | New Westminster, 1972-79. The former lawyer decided not to run in the ’79 campaign in order to run provincially.
                  • NEALE, C. Paddy | Vancouver East, 1972-74. Prior to the ’72 election, Neale was a union secretary-treasurer; he lost his seat in the ’74 campaign.
                  • NELSON, Nels | Burnaby-Seymour, 1972-74. Lost his seat in the ’74 campaign.
                  • OLAUSSEN, Harry | Coast Chilcotin, 1972-74. Lost his seat in the ’74 campaign.

                  Re-elected MPs:

                  • BARNETT, Thomas Speakman | Comox-Alberni, 1953-58, 1962-68, 1969-1974.
                  • DOUGLAS, Tommy | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1962-68; Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1969-1979.
                  • HARDING, Randolph | Kootenay West, 1968-74.
                  • HOWARD, Frank | Skeena, 1957-74.
                  • MacINNIS, Grace | Vancouver Kingsway, 1965-74
                  • MATHER, Barry | New Westminster, 1962-68; Surrey, 1968-72; Surrey-White Rock, 1972-74.
                  • ROSE, Mark | Fraser Valley West, 1968-74; Mission-Port Moody, 1979-83.
                  • WINCH, Harold Edward | Vancouver East, 1953-72.

                  An NDP First: Rosemary Brown is Elected

                  In 1972, Rosemary Brown was the first Black woman elected to a provincial legislature in Canada. She served as NDP MLA in the Vancouver-Burrard constituency and went on to be re-elected three more times, serving from 1979 to 1986 as MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds.

                  Rosemary championed measures to improve women’s working and social conditions and advocated for legislation to prohibit gender-based discrimination.

                  Rosemary Brown was the first Black woman elected to a Canadian legislature

                  1974

                  NDP Caucus – David Lewis, Leader

                  Following a minorty government, Canadian voters decided to elect a Trudeau majority – and that meant the NDP took a hit provincially and nationally. Vote percentage in BC plummeted by a third to 23.0%, while national support fell to 15.44%. In BC, that meant just two seats.

                  The BC NDP team

                  Re-elected MPs:

                  • DOUGLAS, Tommy | Burnaby-Coquitlam, 1962-68; Nanaimo-Cowichan-The Islands, 1969-1979.
                  • LEGGATT, Stuart Malcolm | New Westminster, 1972-79. The former lawyer decided not to run in the ’79 campaign in order to run provincially.

                  An NDP First: Emery Barnes is Elected

                  In 1972, Emery Barnes became the first Black man elected to a Canadian legislature.  He served his constituents in Vancouver Centre, later called Vancouver-Burrard, for 22 years.

                  A passionate advocate for social justice and those living in poverty, Emery was elected by his peers in 1994 to serve as the first Black Speaker of the House in BC history — and also the first Black speaker in Canadian history.

                  NDP MLA Emery Barnes

                  1979

                  NDP Caucus – Ed Broadbent, Leader

                  A bounce-back election… with a fresh look. Mark Rose was back (in a new riding) joined by seven newcomers. The NDP’s vote in BC soared nine points to 31.9%, and increased slightly on the national stage to 17.88%.

                  The BC NDP team

                  New MPs:

                  • FULTON, Jim | Skeena, 1979-93. The former probation officer stayed in office for 14 years before retiring; the NDP then lost the seat.
                  • JEWETT, Pauline | New Westminster, 1979-88. Former university professor and MP for Northumberland (1963-63); retired in 1988 with the riding technically dissolved, though Dawn Black was elected to represent the new riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.
                  • MILLER, Ted | Nanaimo-Alberni, 1979-84. Won two elections before losing in 1984.
                  • MITCHELL, Margaret | Vancouver East, 1979-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                  • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.
                  • SKELLY, Ray | Comox-Powell River, 1979-88; North Island-Powell River, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                  • WADDELL, Ian | Vancouver Kingsway, 1979-88; Port Moody-Coquitlam, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.

                    Coming back:

                    • ROSE, Mark | Fraser Valley West, 1968-74; Mission-Port Moody, 1979-83.

                    1980

                    NDP Caucus – Ed Broadbent, Leader

                    Did you blink? If so, you might have missed the shortest parliament in Canada’s history, just 66 days from first sitting to dissolution. And the 1980 brought about change – from a Progressive Conservative minority to a Liberal majority. BC added four new MPs, taking the party to 12 off a 35.3% vote; nationally, the NDP was up to 32 MPs after getting 19.77% of the vote.

                    The BC NDP team

                    New MPs:

                    • KRISTIANSEN, Lyle | Kootenay West, 1980-84; Kootenay West-Revelstoke, 1988-93. A former woodworker and union financial secretary, he retired for the 1993 election, and the NDP lost the seat.
                    • MANLY, Jim | Cowichan-Malahat-the Islands, 1980-88. A Minister, he retired in 1988 and the party retained the seat.
                    • PARKER, Sid | Kootenay East-Revelstoke, 1980-84; Kootenay East, 1988-93. Former train conductor who ran and lost in the ’93 campaign.
                    • RIIS, Nelson | Kamloops-Shuswap, 1980-88; Kamloops, 1988-2000. A former college instructor and geographer who lost his seat in the 2000 election.

                    Re-elected MPs:

                    • FULTON, Jim | Skeena, 1979-93. The former probation officer stayed in office for 14 years before retiring; the NDP then lost the seat.
                    • JEWETT, Pauline | New Westminster, 1979-88. Former university professor and MP for Northumberland (1963-63); retired in 1988 with the riding technically dissolved, though Dawn Black was elected to represent the new riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.
                    • MILLER, Ted | Nanaimo-Alberni, 1979-84. Won two elections before losing in 1984.
                    • MITCHELL, Margaret | Vancouver East, 1979-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                    • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.
                    • ROSE, Mark | Fraser Valley West, 1968-74; Mission-Port Moody, 1979-83.
                    • SKELLY, Ray | Comox-Powell River, 1979-88; North Island-Powell River, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                    • WADDELL, Ian | Vancouver Kingsway, 1979-88; Port Moody-Coquitlam, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.

                    1984

                    NDP Caucus – Ed Broadbent, Leader
                    In a swing away from the centre-left, the Liberals were decimated, losing more than one hundred seats. And the NDP felt it, too, dropping from 32 to 30 seats federally and 12 to eight in BC, with no new MPs.
                    The BC NDP team

                    Re-elected MPs:

                    • FULTON, Jim | Skeena, 1979-93. The former probation officer stayed in office for 14 years before retiring; the NDP then lost the seat.
                    • JEWETT, Pauline | New Westminster, 1979-88. Former university professor and MP for Northumberland (1963-63); retired in 1988 with the riding technically dissolved, though Dawn Black was elected to represent the new riding of Burnaby-New Westminster.
                    • MANLY, Jim | Cowichan-Malahat-the Islands, 1980-88. A Minister, he retired in 1988 and the party retained the seat.
                    • MITCHELL, Margaret | Vancouver East, 1979-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                    • RIIS, Nelson | Kamloops-Shuswap, 1980-88; Kamloops, 1988-2000. A former college instructor and geographer who lost his seat in the 2000 election.
                    • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.
                    • SKELLY, Ray | Comox-Powell River, 1979-88; North Island-Powell River, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                    • WADDELL, Ian | Vancouver Kingsway, 1979-88; Port Moody-Coquitlam, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.

                    An NDP First: Moe Sihota is Elected

                    Elected to the Legislature in 1986, Moe Sihota was the first person of South Asian descent in Canada to be elected to any federal or provincial office.

                    He served the people of Esquimalt-Port Renfrew and Esquimalt-Metchosin as MLA and as a member of NDP Cabinets in various portfolios during the 1990s, including Labour and Forestry, overseeing significant reforms in both ministries.

                    Former NDP MLA and Cabinet Minister Moe Sihota

                    1988

                    NDP Caucus – Ed Broadbent, Leader

                    The party’s best finish up to that point – with 43 MPs across the country (20.38% vote), including 19 in BC (37.0% vote) – a record number that stands to this day. Ten first-time MPs were voted into office in BC, and two others returned to office after previous losses.

                    The BC NDP team

                    New MPs:

                    • BARRETT, Dave | Esquimalt-Juad de Fuca, 1988-93. BC’s former NDP premier served one term before losing his seat in the ’93 wipeout.
                    • BLACK, Dawn | Burnaby-New Westminster, 1988-93; New Westminster-Coquitlam, 2006-2009. After a 13-year break following the ’93 wipeout, she won the New West-Coquitlam riding before leaving federal politics for a new career as an MLA in British Columbia.
                    • BREWIN, John | Victoria, 1988-93. Lawyer; lost in ’93.
                    • GARDINER, Brian | Prince George-Bulkley Valley, 1988-93. Manager; lost in ’93.
                    • HUNTER, Lynne | Saanich-Gulf Islands, 1988-93. Co-ordinator; lost in ’93.
                    • KARPOFF, Jim | Surrey North, 1988-93. Administrator; lost in ’93.
                    • LANGAN, Joy | Mission-Coquitlam, 1988-93. Director; lost in ’93.
                    • MacWILLIAM, Lyle | Okanagan-Shuswap, 1988-93. Educator/researcher; lost in ’93.
                    • STUPICH, Dave | Nanaimo-Cowichan, 1988-93. Accountant and former MLA; lost in ’93.
                    • WHITTAKER, Jack | Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt, 1988-93. Lawyer; lost in ’93.

                    Re-elected MPs:

                    • FULTON, Jim | Skeena, 1979-93. The former probation officer stayed in office for 14 years before retiring; the NDP then lost the seat.
                    • MANLY, Jim | Cowichan-Malahat-the Islands, 1980-88.
                    • MITCHELL, Margaret | Vancouver East, 1979-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                    • RIIS, Nelson | Kamloops-Shuswap, 1980-88; Kamloops, 1988-2000. A former college instructor and geographer who lost his seat in the 2000 election.
                    • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.
                    • SKELLY, Ray | Comox-Powell River, 1979-88; North Island-Powell River, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.
                    • WADDELL, Ian | Vancouver Kingsway, 1979-88; Port Moody-Coquitlam, 1988-93. Ran and lost in 1993.

                    Coming back:

                    • KRISTIANSEN, Lyle | Kootenay West, 1980-84; Kootenay West-Revelstoke, 1988-93. A former woodworker and union financial secretary, he retired for the 1993 election, and the NDP lost the seat.
                    • PARKER, Sid | Kootenay East-Revelstoke, 1980-84; Kootenay East, 1988-93. Former train conductor who ran and lost in the ’93 campaign.

                    1993

                    NDP Caucus – Audrey McLaughlin, Leader

                    Ah, the cascading chaos of 1993. The Liberals more than doubled their seat total to form a majority government. A new entity came to be – the Reform Party under Preston Manning which came from nowhere to win 52 seats. The Bloc Québécois becomes the official opposition. And the Progressive Conservatives go from winning 169 seats in 1988 to taking just two in ’93.

                    The NDP was firmly caught up in all that chaos – and particularly in the strategic voting triggered by the surging Reform party – going from a high of 43 seats to just nine – with now only two New Democrats elected in British Columbia, where their share of the popular vote fell from 37.0% to 15.5%.

                    The BC NDP team

                    Re-elected:

                    • RIIS, Nelson | Kamloops-Shuswap, 1980-88; Kamloops, 1988-2000. A former college instructor and geographer who lost his seat in the 2000 election.
                    • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.

                    An NDP First: Ministry of Women’s Equality

                    When Premier Mike Harcourt’s government was elected in 1991, he moved immediately to enact longstanding NDP policy creating the first-ever Ministry for Women’s Equality anywhere in the world. 

                    Penny Priddy, MLA for Surrey-Newton was a strong voice for feminism at the cabinet table and helped open doors for women across government.  She is the only woman in Canadian history to be elected to a school board, city council, provincial legislature and the House of Commons.

                    Penny Priddy, the first Minister of Women's Equality

                    1997

                    NDP Caucus – Alexa McDonough, Leader

                    For the second straight election, the NDP have a new leader with Nova Scotia’s Alexa McDonough. But the party’s electoral results are mixed: federally we move to 21 seats from 9 but in BC to just three from two. While the vote percentage almost doubled to 11.05% across the country, BC’s saw only a 2.5% lift.

                    The BC NDP team

                    New MPs:

                    • DAVIES, Libby | Vancouver East, 1997-2015. Formerly a human resources co-ordinator and then Vancouver city councillor, she stayed in office for 18 consecutive years before retiring prior to the 2015 campaign. The NDP won her seat in that election.

                    Re-elected MPs:

                      • RIIS, Nelson | Kamloops-Shuswap, 1980-88; Kamloops, 1988-2000. A former college instructor and geographer who lost his seat in the 2000 election.
                      • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.

                      An NDP First: Tim Stevenson Elected

                      By 1996, there had still been no publicly queer MLA elected in BC.  So, when Tim Stevenson was elected in Vancouver-Burrard as part of Glen Clark’s majority NDP government it was a pretty big deal.

                      Tim was appointed Minister for Employment and Investment, making him the first openly gay cabinet minister in Canadian history.

                      NDP MLA Tim Stevenson
                      NDP MLA and then MP Jenny Kwan

                      An NDP First: Jenny Kwan is Elected

                      Jenny Kwan made history in 1996 when she became the first Chinese-Canadian woman elected to the BC Legislature representing Vancouver-Mount Pleasant. 

                      She had previously served as the youngest-ever member of Vancouver City Council, and together with Joy MacPhail, was one of only two NDP MLAs elected in 2001.  She became the NDP Member of Parliament for Vancouver East in 2015.

                      2000

                      NDP Caucus – Alexa McDonough, Leader

                      A new millennium but the same Liberal majority government; meanwhile Reform is out and Alliance is in (as the official opposition with 66 seats) and the Progressive Conservatives continue to struggle (12 seats)– that said, by the time this parliament dissolved, neither of those two parties existed any longer, and the amalgamated Conservative part was the official opposition.

                      Another disappointing election for the NDP with 13 seats overall and just two in BC. The party’s vote percentage federally had almost doubled to 15.68% but had shrunk by a third to just 11.3% – the impact of a disliked provincial government.

                      The BC NDP team

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • DAVIES, Libby | Vancouver East, 1997-2015. Formerly a human resources co-ordinator and then Vancouver city councillor, she stayed in office for 18 consecutive years before retiring prior to the 2015 campaign. The NDP won her seat in that election.
                      • ROBINSON, Svend | Burnaby, 1979-88; Burnaby Kingsway, 1988-97; Burnaby Douglas, 1997-2004. After a storied 25-year career in politics, Robinson resigned in 2004.

                      An NDP First: First Woman Leader

                      The first woman elected by NDP members lead the party in BC, Carole James fought an amazing campaign in 2005 bringing the party back into contention for government and winning 41.5% of the popular vote – a higher share than by was achieved either NDP government in the 1990s.

                      Carole was MLA in Oak Bay-Gordon Head from 2005 to 2020, served as Minister of Finance, and is the first woman of Métis descent to serve in the Legislature or provincial cabinet.

                      The first woman BC NDP leader, Carole James

                      2004

                      NDP Caucus – Jack Layton, Leader

                      The beginning of a rebuild: the vote percentage doubled both nationally (to 15.68% delivering 19 seats) and provincially (to 26.6% for five seats). It’s the first election for new leader Jack Layton.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • CROWDER, Jean | Nanaimo-Cowichan, 2004-15. The former city councillor retired in 2015 but the party held the seat.
                      • CULLEN, Nathan | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2004-19. A former consultant, he retired in 2019 (the party held the seat) and moved to provincial politics.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • SIKSAY, Bill | Burnaby-Douglas, 2004-11. The former parliamentary assistant to Svend Robinson won the same seat upon the retirement of the latter.

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • DAVIES, Libby | Vancouver East, 1997-2015. Formerly a human resources co-ordinator and then Vancouver city councillor, she stayed in office for 18 consecutive years before retiring prior to the 2015 campaign. The NDP won her seat in that election.

                      An NDP First: Jenn McGinn is Elected

                      Jenn won a by-election in Vancouver-Little Mountain in 2008, making her the first out lesbian to win election in BC.

                      NDP MLA Jenn McGinn

                      2006

                      NDP Caucus – Jack Layton, Leader

                      Now we’re seeing some movement. Nationally, the party is back up to 29 seats (off a 17.48% vote) and ten in BC (28.6%), including four first-time MPs. By disolution, the NDP was up to 30 seats via a 2007 byelection victory by Tom Mulcair in Outremont.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • ATAMANENKO, Alex | Southern Interior, 2006-15. A teacher by career, he served nine years before losing in the 2015 election.
                      • BELL, Catherine | Vancouver Island North, 2006-08. Labour leader.
                      • PRIDDY, Penny | Surrey North, 2006-08. The nurse and former provincial MLA and Minister lost in the ’08 campaign.
                      • SAVOIE, Denise | Victoria, 2006-12. A former city councillor, she resigned for health reasons in 2012

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • CROWDER, Jean | Nanaimo-Cowichan, 2004-15. The former city councillor retired in 2015 but the party held the seat.
                      • CULLEN, Nathan | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2004-19. A former consultant, he retired in 2019 (the party held the seat) and moved to provincial politics.
                      • DAVIES, Libby | Vancouver East, 1997-2015. Formerly a human resources co-ordinator and then Vancouver city councillor, she stayed in office for 18 consecutive years before retiring prior to the 2015 campaign. The NDP won her seat in that election.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • SIKSAY, Bill | Burnaby-Douglas, 2004-11. The former parliamentary assistant to Svend Robinson won the same seat upon the retirement of the latter.

                      Coming back:

                      • BLACK, Dawn | Burnaby-New Westminster, 1988-93; New Westminster-Coquitlam, 2006-2009. After a 13-year break following the ’93 wipeout, she won the New West-Coquitlam riding before leaving federal politics for a new career as an MLA in British Columbia.

                      An NDP First: Mable Elmore is Elected

                      Elected in 2009, Mable Elmore represents the constituency of Vancouver-Kensington and is the first MLA of Filipino descent to serve in BC Legislature.  She is currently the Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives.

                      NDP MLA Mable Elmore
                      BC NDP MLA Jane Shin

                      An NDP First: Jane Shin is Elected

                      Another first in 2013 was the election of Jane Shin in Burnaby-Lougheed.  Jane was the first Korean Canadian elected to the provincial legislature. In office she served at the lead Opposition spokesperson for Small Business.

                      2008

                      NDP Caucus – Jack Layton, Leader

                      For the NDP, seats and vote percentage are up nationally (37/18.18%) and down in BC (9/26.1%). The nine seats in BC included eight incumbents and one new MP. On the national scene, this election – combined with the previous minority parliament – made for the longest-running minority government in Canadian history up to that point.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • DAVIES, Don | Vancouver Kingsway, 2008-to date. Was re-elected in the 2025 election and was chosen as Interim Leader following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh.

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • ATAMANENKO, Alex | Southern Interior, 2006-15. A teacher by career, he served nine years before losing in the 2015 election.
                      • BLACK, Dawn | Burnaby-New Westminster, 1988-93; New Westminster-Coquitlam, 2006-2009. After a 13-year break following the ’93 wipeout, she won the New West-Coquitlam riding before leaving federal politics for a new career as an MLA in British Columbia.
                      • CROWDER, Jean | Nanaimo-Cowichan, 2004-15. The former city councillor retired in 2015 but the party held the seat.
                      • CULLEN, Nathan | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2004-19. A former consultant, he retired in 2019 (the party held the seat) and moved to provincial politics.
                      • DAVIES, Libby | Vancouver East, 1997-2015. Formerly a human resources co-ordinator and then Vancouver city councillor, she stayed in office for 18 consecutive years before retiring prior to the 2015 campaign. The NDP won her seat in that election.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • SAVOIE, Denise | Victoria, 2006-12. A former city councillor, she resigned for health reasons in 2012.
                      • SIKSAY, Bill | Burnaby-Douglas, 2004-11. The former parliamentary assistant to Svend Robinson won the same seat upon the retirement of the latter.

                      Byelection:

                      • DONNELLY, Fin | New Westminster-Coquitlam, 2009-19. Won the seat after Dawn Black resigned the seat to run provincially.

                      An NDP First: Melanie Mark is Elected

                      In 2013, Melanie Mark, MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant became the first First Nations woman elected in BC.

                      Melanie, who is Nisga’a, Gitxsan, Cree, Ojibway, French and Scottish is also the first First Nations woman to serve in cabinet, first appointed to the position of Minister of Advanced Education, Skills & Training in 2017. Melanie served for ten years, stepping down from office in 2023.

                      BC NDP MLA Melanie Mark

                      2011

                      NDP Caucus – Jack Layton, Leader

                      There’s a wave. And it’s Orange. As Stephen Harper and the Conservatives finally get a majority government, the NDP rockets up to 103 seats nationally, becoming the Official Opposition.

                      This election marks the first time the vote percentage across the country comes close to the percentage in BC (30.63%/32.5%). In BC, the NDP saw only a minor increase in its seat count – up to twelve, including four first-time MPs.

                      Sadly, for the party and for Canada, Jack Layton passed away in 2012, and Tom Mulcair won the subsequent leadership race. Also, in BC, Denise Savoie stepped down is 2012 for health reasons, with Murray Rankin winning the seat in a byelection.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • GARRISON, Randall | Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, 2011-2025. After four election victories, he retired just before the 2025 campaign.
                      • SANDHU, Jasbir | Surrey North, 2011-15.
                      • SIMS, Jinny | Newton-North Delta, 2011-2015. Lost her seat in the ’15 campaign but went on to serve multiple terms and a provincial MLA.
                      • STEWART, Kennedy | Burnaby-Douglas, 2011-15; Burnaby South, 2015-18. Resigned his seat to run successfully in Vancouver’s mayorality race.

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • ATAMANENKO, Alex | Southern Interior, 2006-15. A teacher by career, he served nine years before losing in the 2015 election.
                      • CROWDER, Jean | Nanaimo-Cowichan, 2004-15. The former city councillor retired in 2015 but the party held the seat.
                      • CULLEN, Nathan | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2004-19. A former consultant, he retired in 2019 (the party held the seat) and moved to provincial politics.
                      • DAVIES, Don | Vancouver Kingsway, 2008-to date. Was re-elected in the 2025 election and was chosen as Interim Leader following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh.
                      • DAVIES, Libby | Vancouver East, 1997-2015. Formerly a human resources co-ordinator and then Vancouver city councillor, she stayed in office for 18 consecutive years before retiring prior to the 2015 campaign. The NDP won her seat in that election.
                      • DONNELLY, Fin | New Westminster-Coquitlam, 2009-19. Won the seat after Dawn Black resigned the seat to run provincially.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • SAVOIE, Denise | Victoria, 2006-12. A former city councillor, she resigned for health reasons in 2012.

                      Byelection:

                      • RANKIN, Murray | Victoria, 2012-19. Canadian lawyer and public law expert. Retired from federal politics before the ’19 campaign but went on to be an MLA and Minister in the NDP provincial government.

                      An NDP First: Raj Chouhan Becomes Speaker

                      First elected in 2005, Raj Chouhan is the former founding president of the Canadian Farmworkers’ Union. In 2020, he becomes the first South Asian person elected to serve as Speaker of the House in the BC Legislature.

                      BC NDP MLA Raj Chouhan

                      2015

                      NDP Caucus – Tom Mulcair, Leader

                      The crush waves goodbye. Nationally, the party spirals down to 44 seats off a vote percentage that dipped by more than ten points to 19.72. In BC, though, the party picked up an additional two seats to 14, off a vote percentage of 25.9%.

                      There was a fair bit of movement during the subsequent parliament, most notably the resignation of Kennedy Stewart (to run for Vancouver mayor) in Burnaby South which paved the way to newly elected NDP leader Jagmeet Singh to claim a seat in the House of Commons via byelection.

                      Also in 2019, Sheila Malcomson stepped down after four years to run in the newly vacant provincial seat in Nanaimo. The party lost the subsequent Nanaimo-Ladysmith byelection.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • BLANEY, Rachel | North Island-Powell River, 2015-25.
                      • CANNINGS, Richard | Sourth Okanagan-Kootenay West, 2015-2025.
                      • JOHNS, Gord | Courtenay-Alberni, 2015 – to date.
                      • KWAN, Jenny | Vancouver East, 2015 – to date. A former BC MLA, she was elected in the riding freed up by the retirement of Libby Davies.
                      • MacGREGOR, Alistair | Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, 2015-25.
                      • MALCOMSON, Sheila | Nanaimo-Ladysmith, 2015-19. Resigned before the general election; the NDP lost the seat in the byelection.
                      • STETSKI, Wayne | Kootenay-Columbia, 2015-19.

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • CULLEN, Nathan | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2004-19. A former consultant, he retired in 2019 (the party held the seat) and moved to provincial politics.
                      • DAVIES, Don | Vancouver Kingsway, 2008-to date. Was re-elected in the 2025 election and was chosen as Interim Leader following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh.
                      • DONNELLY, Fin | New Westminster-Coquitlam, 2009-19. Won the seat after Dawn Black resigned the seat to run provincially.
                      • GARRISON, Randall | Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, 2011-2025. After four election victories, he retired just before the 2025 campaign.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • RANKIN, Murray | Victoria, 2012-19. Canadian lawyer and public law expert. Retired from federal politics before the ’19 campaign but went on to be an MLA and Minister in the NDP provincial government.
                      • STEWART, Kennedy | Burnaby-Douglas, 2011-15; Burnaby South, 2015-18. Resigned his seat to run successfully in Vancouver’s mayorality race.

                      Byelection:

                      • SINGH, Jagmeet | Burnaby South, 2019-25. The former Ontario MPP was elected leader of the federal NDP in 2017. He lost his seat in the ’25 election and resigned the party leadership.

                      2019

                      NDP Caucus – Jagmeet Singh, Leader

                      In yet another minority government – one largely defined by COVID –  the NDP contingent of 24 MPs (including 11 from BC) held a great deal of sway in providing assistance to Canadians hurt by the pandemic’s job and financial impacts. Meanwhile, within just a few months of the election, Elizabeth May resigned as leader of the Green Party (at least for the moment) and Andrew Scheer is forced out as leader of the Conservatives.

                      In BC’s NDP ranks, nine MPs were returned and added to with two new representatives.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • BACHRACH, Taylor | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2019-25. The former Telkwa councillor and mayor of Smithers won two elections before losing in ’25.
                      • COLLINS, Laurel | Victoria, 2019-25. A former city councillor, she ran successfully in two elections before being defeated in ’25.

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • BLANEY, Rachel | North Island-Powell River, 2015-25.
                      • CANNINGS, Richard | Sourth Okanagan-Kootenay West, 2015-2025.
                      • DAVIES, Don | Vancouver Kingsway, 2008-to date. Was re-elected in the 2025 election and was chosen as Interim Leader following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh.
                      • GARRISON, Randall | Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, 2011-2025. After four election victories, he retired just before the 2025 campaign.
                      • JOHNS, Gord | Courtenay-Alberni, 2015 – to date.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • KWAN, Jenny | Vancouver East, 2015 – to date. A former BC MLA, she was elected in the riding freed up by the retirement of Libby Davies.
                      • MacGREGOR, Alistair | Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, 2015-25.
                      • SINGH, Jagmeet | Burnaby South, 2019-25. The former Ontario MPP was elected leader of the federal NDP in 2017. He lost his seat in the ’25 election and resigned the party leadership.

                      2021

                      NDP Caucus – Jagmeet Singh, Leader

                      Justin Trudeau used Canada’s relative success in handling the COVID pandemic to call an election – only to be greeted with another minority government. Under Jagmeet Singh’s leadership, the NDP leveraged the minority situation to bring in a national pharmacare program, a new dental care plan, expanded child care and other measures to benefit everyday Canadians.

                      This parliament also produced its fair share of turmoil, as both the Conservatives and Liberals had new leaders by dissolution.

                      Nationally, the NDP won 25 seats (from a 17.82% vote); in BC, the party held more than half those seats (13) from a 29.2% vote.

                      The BC NDP team

                      New MPs:

                      • BARRON, Lisa Marie | Nanaimo-Ladysmith, 2021-15.
                      • ZARRILLO, Bonita | Port Moody-Coquitlam, 2021-25.

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • BACHRACH, Taylor | Skeena-Bulkley Valley, 2019-25. The former Telkwa councillor and mayor of Smithers won two elections before losing in ’25.
                      • BLANEY, Rachel | North Island-Powell River, 2015-25.
                      • CANNINGS, Richard | Sourth Okanagan-Kootenay West, 2015-2025.
                      • COLLINS, Laurel | Victoria, 2019-25. A former city councillor, she ran successfully in two elections before being defeated in ’25.
                      • DAVIES, Don | Vancouver Kingsway, 2008-to date. Was re-elected in the 2025 election and was chosen as Interim Leader following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh.
                      • GARRISON, Randall | Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, 2011-2025. After four election victories, he retired just before the 2025 campaign.
                      • JOHNS, Gord | Courtenay-Alberni, 2015 – to date.
                      • JULIAN, Peter | Burnaby-New Westminster (which changed to New Westminster-Burnaby in 2015), 2004-2025. The former financial administrator won his first term in office by just 329 votes; he won his last in 2021 by 12,400 votes. He lost in the 2025 “strategic voting” election.
                      • KWAN, Jenny | Vancouver East, 2015 – to date. A former BC MLA, she was elected in the riding freed up by the retirement of Libby Davies.
                      • MacGREGOR, Alistair | Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, 2015-25.
                      • SINGH, Jagmeet | Burnaby South, 2019-25. The former Ontario MPP was elected leader of the federal NDP in 2017. He lost his seat in the ’25 election and resigned the party leadership.

                      2025

                      NDP Caucus – Jagmeet Singh, Leader

                      Following Justin Trudeau’s resignation and the election of Mark Carney as their new leader, the Liberals staged a remarkable turnaround and won a minority government (falling just short of a majority). It was an election marked by significant strategic voting, with many centre-left voters concerned about a potential electoral victory by Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives.

                      As a result, many traditional NDP voters cast ballots for the Liberal Party. The NDP was virtually decimated, down to seven MPs across Canada (only three in BC) and losing official party status in the House of Commons.

                      The BC NDP team

                      Re-elected MPs:

                      • DAVIES, Don | Vancouver Kingsway, 2008-to date. Was re-elected in the 2025 election and was chosen as Interim Leader following the resignation of Jagmeet Singh.
                      • JOHNS, Gord | Courtenay-Alberni, 2015 – to date.
                      • KWAN, Jenny | Vancouver East, 2015 – to date. A former BC MLA, she was elected in the riding freed up by the retirement of Libby Davies.

                      An NDP First: The 2020 BC NDP Caucus

                      BC’s 2020 election delivered the largest and most diverse BC NDP caucus in history, with 57 MLAs elected to serve in the Legislature in Victoria.

                      This large, dedicated team of New Democrats is, at 29 women members, the first-ever majority women governing caucus in both British Columbian and Canadian history.

                      2020 BC NDP Caucus