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Adrian Dix

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The Honourable
Adrian Dix
MLA
Minister of Health of British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 18, 2017
PremierJohn Horgan
David Eby
Preceded byMary Polak
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs of British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 27, 2017
PremierJohn Horgan
David Eby
Member of the
British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Kingsway
Incumbent
Assumed office
May 17, 2005
Preceded byRob Nijjar
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
April 17, 2011 – May 4, 2014
Preceded byDawn Black
Succeeded byJohn Horgan
Leader of the
British Columbia New Democratic Party
In office
April 17, 2011 – May 4, 2014
Preceded byDawn Black
Succeeded byJohn Horgan
Personal details
Born (1964-04-20) April 20, 1964 (age 60)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political partyNew Democrat
SpouseRenée Saklikar
Residence(s)Vancouver, British Columbia
OccupationPolitician

Adrian Dix (born April 20, 1964)[1] is a Canadian politician who is the current Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Vancouver-Kingsway in British Columbia. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP), he was the party's leader and Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia from 2011 to 2014, resigning after losing the 2013 provincial election in an upset. He is the current Minister of Health as well as the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, both since 2017, under premiers John Horgan and David Eby.

Personal life

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Adrian Dix was born in Vancouver, to parents Ken and Hilda, immigrants from Ireland and Britain, respectively. His parents ran the Dix Insurance Agency Ltd. on West 41st Avenue in Vancouver until 2011 when his father retired and sold the business.[2] Growing up in Vancouver, Dix was raised as an Anglican and attended both St. George's School and Point Grey Secondary. He then went on to study history and political science at the University of British Columbia. Dix has two siblings and currently lives in Vancouver with his wife Renée Saklikar, a poet and writer.[3] Dix was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes in his 20s.[2] Fluently bilingual, Dix lived in France as a young man.

Political career

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Early career

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Dix's first job in politics was as an aide to federal NDP MP Ian Waddell in Ottawa. In 1991, he returned to BC to become an assistant to Glen Clark in the provincial ministry of finance.[4]

After Clark became Premier of British Columbia in 1996, Dix was named his chief of staff. Dix was dismissed in 1999 for back-dating a memo to protect Clark from conflict-of-interest charges.[5] Dix has said of this incident, "It was wrong, it was wrong. I'm out there and I've admitted it and people will judge. But I'm not trying to hide my mistake."[6] This memo would later become a focus of a number of opposition BC Liberal Party ads in the 2013 provincial election.[7]

Subsequently, he went on to work as the executive director of Canadian Parents for French in their B.C./Yukon branch. The Vancouver Sun summarized his work in this position as "successfully encouraging more school boards to offer French immersion programs."[2]

From 2001 to 2005 Dix was a political commentator in various media, writing a column for the Victoria Times-Colonist and The Source, a prominent intercultural newspaper in Vancouver. He was also a contributor to The Tyee[8] and the CBC.[9]

Entry into elective politics

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In 2005, Dix was elected as the MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway. He first served as the opposition critic for Children and Families and then served as the Health critic.[10] As MLA, he cites among his achievements "bringing insulin pumps to children with Type 1 diabetes and his work on a successful campaign to stop three schools from being closed in Vancouver-Kingsway."[11]

Leader of the NDP

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Main article: 2011 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election

After NDP leader Carole James announced her resignation, Dix was one of several candidates to run for the leadership. The last candidate to publicly launch his leadership bid, Dix campaigned on a platform of eliminating the HST, rolling back reductions in the corporate tax rate, supporting the redirection of carbon tax revenue to pay for public transit and infrastructure that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, supporting an increase in the minimum wage rate to $10 per hour, creating a provincial child care system, restoring grants to the post-secondary students, reducing interest on student loans, and restoring the corporation capital tax on financial institutions.[12][13][14]

His candidacy was endorsed by former interim BC NDP leader Joy MacPhail, amongst others.[15]

Dix led throughout the voting, narrowly defeating rival Mike Farnworth on the third and final ballot with 51.8% of the vote.[16]

Going into the 2013 election, nearly all polls showed the NDP well ahead of the BC Liberals, with at least one showing the NDP ahead by as much as 20 points. Two months prior to the election, The Province newspaper's front page featured a column by pundit Michael Smyth with the banner headline: "If This Man Kicked A Dog He Would Still Win The Election."[17] However, in a result that shocked the party and political pundits, the BC Liberals won a fourth majority government.[18][19][20] The BC NDP won 34 seats, one fewer than in 2009.

Dix announced on September 18, 2013 that he would resign as party leader once a new leader (John Horgan) would be chosen in 2014. He also announced his intention to run for re-election as an MLA in the next provincial election.[21]

Cabinet minister

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After the NDP formed government as a result of the 2017 election, Dix was appointed Minister of Health.[22] After Horgan stepped down and was succeeded as Premier by David Eby in 2022, Dix retained the portfolio in the new Eby ministry.[23]

On August 30, 2021, Dix announced an initiative to bring 4000 housekeepers and food service workers in provincial hospitals back under government employment by March 2022. This was an effort to reverse the fallout of the British Columbia Liberal Party administration passing the Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act in January 2002. The act facilitated the contracting of hospital support jobs to private employers, leading to thousands of hospital support workers to be laid off from the public sector and rehired under private contractors for reduced wages and benefits.[24] One employee reported an hourly wage decline from $18.10 with benefits and a pension while under direct provincial employment to $10.15 with neither benefits nor pensions under the private sector.[25] The Hospital Employees' Union had also reported the halving of wages upon being contracted by the private sector. Additionally, Premier John Horgan noted that these wage declines disproportionately affected women.[26]

In 2022, a group of 26 medical specialists in British Columbia wrote an open letter to Health Minister Adrian Dix, expressing concern about the province's deteriorating healthcare system. They claimed that patients are suffering and dying while waiting for care due to increasing wait times. The specialists, including cardiologists, pediatricians, and transplant surgeons, called for urgent action to address the crisis and work collaboratively to find solutions to improve patient outcomes and reduce waitlists.[27]

Election results

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2020 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Adrian Dix 12,297 67.81 +7.18 $28,463.86
Liberal Cole Anderson 3,919 21.61 −5.48 $1,200.00
Green Scott Bernstein 1,662 9.16 −0.15 $1,539.01
Libertarian Karin Litzcke 257 1.42 – $0.00
Total valid votes 18,135 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 175 0.96 +0.09
Turnout 18,310 44.50 −8.85
Registered voters 41,144
New Democratic hold Swing +6.33
Source: Elections BC[28][29]
2017 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Adrian Dix 12,031 60.63 +3.86 $63,235
Liberal Trang Nguyen 5,377 27.09 −8.32 $49,362
Green Ellisa Calder 1,848 9.31 +2.04 $1,244
Conservative Charles Bae 504 2.54 – $855
Your Political Party Brette Mullins 85 0.43 – $1,053
Total valid votes 19,845 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 174 0.87 −0.44
Turnout 20,019 53.35 +4.39
Registered voters 37,521
Source: Elections BC[30][31]
2013 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Adrian Dix 10,409 56.77 +1.60 $139,024
Liberal Gurjit Dhillon 6,600 35.99 −5.97 $40,883
Green Gregory Dale Esau 1,327 7.24 +3.06 $250
Total valid votes 18,336 100.00
Total rejected ballots 244 1.31
Turnout 18,580 48.96
Source: Elections BC[32]
Candidate First ballot Second ballot Third ballot
Votes Percent Votes Percent Votes Percent
Adrian Dix 7,638 38.2% 7,748 39.3% 9,772 51.8%
Mike Farnworth 6,979 34.9% 6,951 35.2% 9,095 48.2%
John Horgan 4,844 24.2% 5,034 25.5%
Dana Larsen 531 2.7%
2009 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
New Democratic Adrian Dix 9,229 55.17 $87,767
Liberal Bill Yuen 6,518 38.96 $69,706
Green Rev Warkentin 699 4.18 $353
Libertarian Matt Kadioglu 171 1.02 $250
People's Front Charles Boylan 122 0.67 $250
Total valid votes 16,739 100.00
Total rejected ballots 215 1.27
Turnout 16,944 46.99
2005 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Kingsway
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
New Democratic Adrian Dix 10,038 51.44 $84,411
Liberal Rob Nijjar 7,894 40.46 $115,864
Green Stuart Mackinnon 1,212 6.21 $4,556
Marijuana Steven Mackenzie Lay 219 1.12 $100
People's Front Donna Petersen 77 0.39 $103
Sex Yvonne Maylynne Tink 73 0.37 $100
Total valid votes 19,513 100
Total rejected ballots 239 1.22
Turnout 19,752 54.19

References

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  1. ^ Lee, Jeff (April 10, 2013). "Election battle rages on Wikipedia". and "Election battle boils over on Wikipedia". Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia. pp. A1–A9. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via newspapers.com. His birthday is April 20, 1964, not April 26
  2. ^ a b c Todd, Douglas (February 19, 2012). "NDP Leader Adrian Dix unveiled". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on October 24, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  3. ^ Smith, Charlie (October 17, 2012). "Poet Renée Sarojini Saklikar remembers the murdered children of Air India Flight 182". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  4. ^ "The Fall and Rise of Adrian Dix". Vancouver Magazine. November 2, 2012. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  5. ^ MacLeod, Andrew (April 20, 2011). "'I Own Memo Mistake' Says Dix, Pointing to His Record Since". The Tyee. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Mason, Gary (November 1, 2012). "The Fall and Rise of Adrian Dix". Vancouver Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "Editorial: Dix's political past is completely fair game". The Province. March 13, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  8. ^ Bio at The Tyee
  9. ^ Bio, Adrian Dix, NDP website Archived January 31, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ MacLeod, Andrew (April 20, 2011). "'I Own Memo Mistake' Says Dix, Pointing to His Record Since". The Tyee. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  11. ^ Smith, Charlie (March 4, 2011). "NDP's Adrian Dix says he's a candidate of substance, whereas Christy Clark only offers style". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Hunter, Justine (February 2, 2011). "B.C. NDP's Dix tax proposal takes a big bite out of big business". Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  13. ^ "Former Comox Valley MLA Gillespie backing Dix' leadership bid". Comox Valley Record. Courtenay. March 15, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  14. ^ Bailey, Ian (February 22, 2011). "B.C. NDP candidate calls for tax on banks". Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
  15. ^ Thomson, Stephen (January 27, 2011). "Joy MacPhail backs Adrian Dix for B.C. NDP leadership". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  16. ^ "Adrian Dix wins B.C. NDP leadership". CBC News. April 17, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  17. ^ Logan, Nick (May 15, 2013). "'Everyone was wrong': Pollster predictions way off mark in B.C. election". Global News. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  18. ^ Ferry, Jon (May 15, 2013). "Jobs, tax fears win out as Liberal victory proves pundits wrong". The Province. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  19. ^ Fowlie, Jonathan (May 15, 2013). "Liberals pull off stunning B.C. win, form majority government". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  20. ^ Hébert, Chantal (May 15, 2013). "NDP across Canada must be mourning stunning B.C. election loss". The Star. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  21. ^ "Adrian Dix resigns as B.C. NDP Leader". Globe and Mail. September 18, 2013. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  22. ^ "BC NDP takes power: The big issues and the people John Horgan has appointed to handle them". Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  23. ^ "B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet of 23 ministers". CTV News. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  24. ^ "B.C. hiring back hospital cleaners, food services workers almost 2 decades after privatization push". CTV News. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  25. ^ Alam, Hina (August 30, 2021). "B.C. to phase out private housekeeping, food service contracts in acute care". The Toronto Star. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  26. ^ "B.C. to phase out private housekeeping, food service contracts in acute care - CBC News". CBC News. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  27. ^ "Specialists write open letter to Adrian Dix about B.C.'s 'crumbling' health-care system".
  28. ^ "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  29. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  30. ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  31. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  32. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adrian Dix.
British Columbia provincial government of John Horgan
Cabinet post (1)
Predecessor Office Successor
Mary Polak Minister of Health
July 18, 2017– 		Incumbent
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