Mike de Jong

The Honourable Mike de Jong Q.C., MLA
Minister of Forests of British Columbia
In office June 5, 2001 – June 16, 2005
Premier	Gordon Campbell
Preceded by	Gordon Wilson
Succeeded by	Rich Coleman
Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services of British Columbia
In office June 16, 2005 – August 15, 2006
Premier	Gordon Campbell
Preceded by	Graham Bruce
Succeeded by	Olga Ilich
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation of British Columbia
In office August 15, 2006 – June 10, 2009
Premier	Gordon Campbell
Preceded by	Tom Christensen
Succeeded by	George Abbott
Attorney General of British Columbia
In office June 10, 2009 – December 1, 2010
Premier	Gordon Campbell
Preceded by	Wally Oppal
Succeeded by	Barry Penner
Solicitor General of British Columbia
In office April 9, 2010 – October 25, 2010
Premier	Gordon Campbell
Preceded by	Kash Heed
Succeeded by	Rich Coleman
Minister of Health of British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office March 14, 2011
Premier	Christy Clark
Preceded by	Colin Hansen
Personal details
Political party	Liberal

Mike de Jong, Q.C. is a politician from British Columbia, Canada.

Politics and career

He was appointed Minister of Health Mike de Jong on March 14, 2011. He has previously held the post of Attorney General and Government House Leader, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. He was the British Columbia Liberal Party MLA for the riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, a city in the Fraser Valley. He sought re-election in the newly-created riding of Abbotsford West during the 2009 general election, and won.

He previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizen Services, and as Minister of Forests, and was a member of the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001.

de Jong was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in a 1994 by-election for the riding of Matsqui.^[1] He defeated Social Credit Party Leader Grace McCarthy who was attempting to rebuild that political party. Shortly after, McCarthy resigned as Social Credit Party Leader and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.

de Jong was re-elected in the 1996, 2001, and 2005 elections in the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, and in the newly created riding of Abbotsford West in the 2009 election.

On December 1, 2010, Mike de Jong announced that he would seek the leadership of the BC Liberal Party, in the February 26, 2011 leadership election. He placed fourth in the leadership election, which was won by Christy Clark.^[2]

Before his election, de Jong was a lawyer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University in Ottawa and a law degree from the University of Alberta.

Controversy

In 2004 as Minister of Forests de Jong removed 70 000 hectares of land from TFL 44 with no compensation from the owner and against the recommendations of ministry staff. This effectively privatized what had been Crown Land without compensation to the province. The changes made allowed the wood to be exported as raw logs rather than lumber. It also allowed for its eventual development. The land in question was under dispute by the Hupacasath First Nation and also the Tseshaht First Nation. No consultation took place and the bands have since filed legal action. ^[3][4] He has also been linked to other such privatizations of Crown forest land. ^[5]

In 2010 Mike de Jong faced further controversy when as Attorney General he approved the payment of $6 million in legal fees for Liberal Party insiders David Basi and Robert Virk who plead guilty to charges of breach of trust and accepting benefits in connection with the sale of BC Rail in 2003. De Jong defended his actions saying the government's Legal Services Branch had recommended they not try to collect the funds since the aides did not have any money.^[6]

See also

• British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, 2011
• British Columbia Liberal Party
• BC Legislature Raids

References

1. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
2. ^ B.C.’s new premier Christy Clark puts job creation, families atop agenda
3. ^ Valley, Alberni (2008-05-09). "Opposition pounces on TFL 44 revelations". Canada.com. http://www.canada.com/albernivalleytimes/news/story.html?id=538b16c7-f523-4b6a-9a56-7cd6cfad526a. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 
4. ^ http://www.cstc.bc.ca/news/text/243/12/
5. ^ Damonse, Anthony (2011-01-12). "Kitimat Sentinel - ‘Mistake’ not adjusting min. wage". Bclocalnews.com. http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/northernsentinel/news/113259159.html. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 
6. ^ "CBC News - British Columbia - BC Rail defendants' $6M tab footed by taxpayers". CBC.ca. 2010-10-19. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/10/19/bc-basi-virk-public-inquiry.html. Retrieved 2011-02-01. 

External links

• Mike de Jong MLA web site

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Name	Jong, Mike de
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