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Gary Collins (Canadian politician)

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Gary Collins
Minister of Finance of British Columbia
In office
June 5, 2001 – December 15, 2004
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byPaul Ramsey
Succeeded byColin Hansen
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Fairview
Vancouver-Little Mountain (1996-2001)
In office
May 28, 1996 – December 15, 2004
Preceded byTom Perry
Succeeded byGregor Robertson
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Fort Langley-Aldergrove
In office
October 17, 1991 – May 28, 1996
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byRich Coleman
Personal details
Born (1963-08-22) August 22, 1963 (age 61)
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan[1][2]
Political partyBC Liberal
SpouseWendy Cox
Residence(s)Vancouver, British Columbia
Occupation
  • pilot
  • flight instructor

Gary Collins (born August 22, 1963), known as Gary Farrell-Collins until 2001, is a former Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing Fort Langley-Aldergrove from 1991 to 1996, Vancouver-Little Mountain from 1996 to 2001, and Vancouver-Fairview from 2001 to 2004. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in the cabinet of Premier Gordon Campbell as Minister of Finance from 2001 to 2004. He was also the chief executive officer of Vancouver-based Harmony Airways from 2004 to 2006.

Biography

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He was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Jack and Kay Collins.[1] After moving to British Columbia, he attended the Fraser Valley College and graduated from the aviation diploma program;[1] he went on to become a flight instructor with that institution.[3] In addition, he studied economics and political science at Simon Fraser University.[1][3]

He ran in the 1991 provincial election as a BC Liberal candidate in the riding of Fort Langley-Aldergrove, and was elected MLA by a margin of 2,636 votes.[4] For the 1996 election he moved to the riding of Vancouver-Little Mountain, and was re-elected with 50.3% of the vote.[5] In opposition, he served as Official Opposition House Leader and held a variety of critic roles, including labour, investment and finance.[3][6][7]

With the Little Mountain riding dissolved and redistributed ahead of the 2001 provincial election, he ran in the newly established riding of Vancouver-Fairview, and was re-elected by a margin of 7,813 votes.[8] The Liberals formed government following that election, and Collins was appointed to the cabinet that June by Premier Gordon Campbell to serve as Minister of Finance;[9] he was also named Government House Leader.[10] For his first budget, Collins raised the provincial sales tax by half a percentage point to 7.5%, and increased tobacco tax and medicare premiums; a $4.4 billion deficit was forecast for that fiscal year.[11] He went on to announce the Liberal government's first balanced budget in 2004.[12]

In December 2004, Collins announced his decision to resign as Minister of Finance and Vancouver-Fairview MLA effective immediately, and became the CEO of Harmony Airways.[13] He left that position in December 2006; the airline ceased operations a few months later.[14][15] He then became a senior vice-president with Belkorp Industries, before being named president of Coastal Contacts in August 2012.[15]

Personal life

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He was first elected under the name Gary Farrell-Collins, and appeared on the ballot in the 2001 provincial election by that name. However, he was sworn in as MLA at the 37th Parliament as "Gary Collins" later that year, after dropping his former wife's last name following their divorce.[16][17] He later married Wendy Cox, a reporter with The Canadian Press.[18] They have three children together, son Thomas, daughters Claire and Rachel.[19]

Electoral record

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1991 British Columbia general election: Fort Langley-Aldergrove
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Liberal Gary Farrell-Collins 8,663 43.57 $8,849
New Democratic Charles Bradford 6,027 30.31 $24,268
Social Credit Dan Peterson 4,880 24.54 $40,933
Independent Lila Stanford 227 1.14 $1,203
Western Canada Concept William White 87 0.44 –
Total valid votes 19,884 100.00
Total rejected ballots 243 1.21
Turnout 20,127 77.44
Source: Legislative Library of British Columbia[20]
1996 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Little Mountain
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Gary Farrell-Collins 12,036 50.25
New Democratic Margaret Birrell 9,390 39.20
Progressive Democrat Ted Phillip Bradley 1,062 4.43
Green Stuart Parker 714 2.98
Reform David J. Waine 489 2.04
Independent Dan Grant 96 0.40
Social Credit Gerold Kuklinski 85 0.35
Natural Law Estelle Brooke 82 0.34
Total valid votes 23,954 100.00
Total rejected ballots 184
Turnout 67.80
Source: Legislative Library of British Columbia[21]
2001 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Fairview
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Liberal Gary Farrell-Collins 12,864 54.94 $35,510
Green Vanessa Violini 5,051 21.57 $3,659
New Democratic Anita Romaniuk 4,772 20.38 $9,902
Marijuana Ron MacIntyre 651 2.78 $735
People's Front Brian Sproule 76 0.33 $57
Total valid votes 23,414 100.00
Total rejected ballots 142 0.61
Turnout 23,556 64.20
Source: Legislative Library of British Columbia[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Collins, Hon. Gary (Vancouver-Fairview) Minister of Finance". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Guide Parlementaire Canadien". 1996.
  3. ^ a b c "36th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 18, 2001: Mr. Gary Farrell-Collins". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Fort Langley-Aldergrove". CBC News. April 26, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  5. ^ McMartin, Will (May 10, 2005). "Tight Vancouver Races Diverge". The Tyee. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  6. ^ "Cull appointment rapped by Liberals". CBC News. October 27, 2000. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  7. ^ "NDP Secretary quits". CBC News. July 15, 1999. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Vancouver-Fairview". CBC News. April 29, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  10. ^ "Executive Council Biographies". Office of the Premier of British Columbia. January 26, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  11. ^ "B.C. budget tax hikes slammed". CBC News. February 20, 2002. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "Gordon Campbell: leader of the BC Liberal Party". CBC News. April 6, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "Finance Minister Gary Collins resigns". CBC News. December 15, 2004. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Smith, Charlie (March 27, 2007). "Harmony Airways announces end of scheduled service on April 9". Georgia Straight. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Korstrom, Glen (August 22, 2012). "Former B.C. finance minister is new Coastal Contacts president". Business in Vancouver. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  16. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia Supplement: 1987-2001" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Palmer, Vaughn (April 2, 2010). "Meet Spencer Chandra Herbert". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  18. ^ Tieleman, Bill (December 16, 2004). "Liberals take hard right with Gary Collins' departure". Georgia Straight. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Dorothy Thomas: Obituary". Regina Leader-Post. July 3, 2005. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia Supplement: 1987-2001" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia Supplement: 1987-2001" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  22. ^ "Electoral History of British Columbia Supplement: 1987-2001" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
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