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Graham Bruce

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Graham Bruce
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Cowichan-Ladysmith
In office
May 16, 2001 – May 17, 2005
Preceded byJan Pullinger
Succeeded byDoug Routley
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Cowichan-Malahat
In office
October 22, 1986 – October 17, 1991
Preceded byBarbara Wallace
Succeeded byJan Pullinger[1]
Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture of British Columbia
In office
April 15, 1991 – November 5, 1991
PremierRita Johnston
Preceded byLyall Franklin Hanson
Succeeded byRobin Blencoe (Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Housing)
Minister of Skills Development and Labour of British Columbia
In office
June 5, 2001 – June 16, 2005
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byJoan Smallwood (Labour)
Succeeded byMichael de Jong (Labour and Citizens' Services)
Mayor of North Cowichan
In office
1979–1987
Preceded byGeorge W. Whittaker
Succeeded byH. Rex Hollett
Personal details
Born (1952-07-07) July 7, 1952 (age 72)
Duncan, British Columbia
Political partySocial Credit → BC Liberal
SpouseAnneke
ResidenceCrofton, British Columbia

Graham Preston Bruce is a former Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Cowichan-Malahat from 1986 to 1991 as part of the Social Credit Party (Socred),[2] and the district of Cowichan-Ladysmith from 2001 to 2005 as a BC Liberal. He was a cabinet minister under premiers Rita Johnston and Gordon Campbell.

Biography

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Bruce was a North Cowichan councillor for three years, before serving as the municipality's mayor from 1979 to 1987.[3][4][5] In the 1983 provincial election, he ran as a Social Credit Party candidate in the riding of Cowichan-Malahat, but lost to the incumbent New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Barbara Wallace.[6][7]

He ran in Cowichan-Malahat again in the 1986 provincial election, this time defeating NDP candidate Carolyn Askew to become the riding's member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).[4][6] On October 3, 1989, Bruce and three colleagues — Duane Delton Crandall, David Mercier, and Doug Mowat — quit the governing Social Credit caucus to sit as "Independent Social Credit" members. In a joint statement, the four stressed that they "in no way desire[d] the fall of our government", but wished to spur an "open and realistic assessment" of Premier Bill Vander Zalm's continued leadership.[8] Bruce was said to have grown discontent after the shocking by-election defeat in Cariboo, a longtime stronghold for the party, two weeks prior.[9] He returned to the Socred caucus on February 14, 1990, alongside Mercier and Mowat (Crandall had already rejoined caucus in January).[10]

Vander Zalm resigned as premier and party leader in April 1991; his successor Rita Johnston appointed Bruce to the cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture.[4][11] With the Cowichan-Malahat riding being disestablished ahead of that October's provincial election, Bruce instead contested the new riding of Cowichan-Ladysmith. Despite the change in leadership, the Socreds were unable to make up lost ground, and was defeated by the NDP; Bruce himself lost to NDP candidate Jan Pullinger.[6]

Bruce ran for party leader following Johnston's resignation in January 1992. In the November 1993 leadership election, he came in second place behind Grace McCarthy after three ballots.[12]

He returned to politics in 2001 by running again in Cowichan-Ladysmith in that year's provincial election, this time for the BC Liberals. He defeated NDP candidate Rob Hutchins to re-enter the legislature,[6] and was named to Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet that June as Minister of Skills Development and Labour;[13] he was additionally named Government House Leader in December 2004.[4] He ran for re-election in 2005, but lost to NDP challenger Doug Routley.[6][14]

Following his re-election loss, Bruce conducted consulting work for the Cowichan Tribes. In 2007, he was accused by the opposition NDP of improper lobbying activities on behalf of the tribes within two years of his departure from the legislature.[15][16] Conflict of Interest Commissioner Paul Fraser ruled in 2009 that Bruce did not benefit directly from his previous ministerial role.[17] However, in a separate investigation by the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, Bruce was found in breach of the Federal Lobbyists' Code of Conduct for not registering.[18]

From 2009 to 2018, Bruce served as chief executive officer of the Island Corridor Foundation, an organization seeking to revive passenger rail service on Vancouver Island.[19][20]

He and his wife Anneke have four children together.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ The new riding of Cowichan-Ladysmith
  2. ^ Normandin, P.G. (1991). The Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Gale Canada. ISBN 9780921925408. ISSN 0315-6168. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Bruce, Hon. Graham (Cowichan-Ladysmith) Minister of Skills Development and Labour". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "MLA: Hon. Graham Bruce". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012.
  5. ^ "Past Councils". Municipality of North Cowichan. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Candidates: Graham Preston Bruce". Canadian Elections Database. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Simpson, Sarah (May 14, 2023). "Lake Flashback: Integrated learning, budget woes, and Wallace wins". Lake Cowichan Gazette. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Leyne, Les; Heiman, Carolyn (October 4, 1989). "Four Socreds quit caucus". Times Colonist. pp. A1–A2.
  9. ^ Leyne, Les (October 4, 1989). "Rebels set to push if Vander Zalm doesn't jump". Times Colonist. pp. A1.
  10. ^ "Valentine for Vander Zalm: Dissident MLAs will return to Socred fold". Times Colonist. February 15, 1990. pp. A3.
  11. ^ "Rita Johnston Cabinet: 34th Parliament 1991" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  12. ^ Courtney, John C. (1995). Do Conventions Matter?: Choosing National Party Leaders in Canada. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 369. ISBN 0773565698.
  13. ^ "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "B.C. Liberals win again, lose 8 ministers". CBC News. May 18, 2005. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "Former B.C. Liberal minister caught in lobby scandal, NDP alleges". CBC News. The Canadian Press. October 16, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Former B.C. minister won't face conflict of interest investigation". CBC News. December 21, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Mackin, Bob (September 4, 2013). "Sidebar: There's Gold in Garbage Lobbying". The Tyee. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "The lobbying activities of Graham Bruce". Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada. 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Rardon, JR (May 30, 2016). "Meeting Tuesday could shed light on Graham Bruce's future with foundation that wants to re-start passenger rail on Vancouver Island". Oak Bay News. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  20. ^ Barron, Robert (August 3, 2018). "New CEO brings drive to Island Corridor Foundation". Cowichan Valley Citizen. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
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