Rick Glumac
 | This biographical article is written like a résumé. (September 2024) |
Rick Glumac | |
|---|---|
 Glumac in 2017 | |
| Premier's Liaison for the Pacific Northwest | |
| Assumed office April 19, 2023 | |
| Premier | David Eby |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Premier's Liaison to Washington State | |
| In office December 15, 2020 – April 19, 2023 | |
| Premier | John Horgan David Eby |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Technology of British Columbia | |
| In office July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020 | |
| Premier | John Horgan |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Succeeded by | Brenda Bailey |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Port Moody-Burquitlam | |
| Assumed office May 9, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Reimer |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | New Democratic Party |
| Residence(s) | Port Moody, British Columbia |
Rick Glumac is a software developer, environmentalist, and Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election by defeating one-term Liberal Party MLA Linda Reimer.[1]
As an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for the British Columbia New Democratic Party, he represents the riding of Port Moody-Burquitlam, which encompasses the western part of the city of Coquitlam, the entire city of Port Moody, and the villages of Anmore and Belcarra.[1]
Glumac served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Technology for the Government of British Columbia until November 2020.[2][3] He has served as the provincial representative to the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region since 2017, and became president of PNWER in July 2023. In December 2020, he was appointed as Premier's Liaison to Washington State.[3] Glumac's position was expanded in April 2023 and he was appointed by David Eby to serve as Premier's Liaison for the Pacific Northwest.[4]
Early life
[edit]Glumac grew up in Port Alberni, BC. In 1995, he graduated with a degree in Electronics Engineering from Simon Fraser University.[5]
Glumac worked much of his career in the field of computer graphics as an Software Developer, FX Artist, and a Computer Graphics Supervisor.[6] He worked on the first computer-animated TV show ReBoot, and later worked for companies such as DreamWorks and Electronic Arts on well-known Hollywood films such as Shrek 2, Madagascar, and Over The Hedge.[6] Following this he worked as a software developer, developing apps for iPhone.[5]
Career in politics
[edit]Glumac was first elected to Port Moody City Council in 2011.[7] He was re-elected in 2014 with the highest vote share of any candidate.[8] On council he chaired various committees including [7] the Environmental Protection Committee and Economic Development Committee which recommended the hiring of an Economic Development Officer to grow the city's business tax base.
During his time as a Councillor, he served as the Vice President of the Lower Mainland Local Government Association.[5] Glumac was also elected as the Vancouver Metro Area Representative to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM). He has served on Metro Vancouver's Zero Waste Committee and on the Fraser Health Municipal Government Advisory Council.
As an MLA, he chaired the following legislative committees:
- Special Committee to Review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act which authored the report titled FIPPA for the Future[9]
- Select Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fish, and Food to investigate opportunities for carbon sequestration in soil
He vice-chaired the following committee:
- Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts which has oversight on government services.[5]
He also served on the following legislative committees:
- Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth which authored a report titled Children and Youth with Neuro-Diverse Special Needs[10]
- Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act which authored the report titled Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia[11]
- Special Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act which authored the report titled Modernizing British Columbia's Private Sector Privacy Law[12]
- Sustainable Shared Prosperity Cabinet Committee.
Glumac is credited with working with the B.C. Ministry of Health to protect the Eagle Ridge Hospital lands in Port Moody from being sold to private developers, stopping a plan by the BC Liberal government to condition new improvements to the hospital on the sale of the lands to private real estate developers.[13][14]
Glumac consistently speaks in the Legislature to promote action to protect B.C.’s environment.[15] In 2018, he spoke during the Legislature's emergency debate on climate change.[16] He is a key supporter of the province's CleanBC strategy of reducing climate pollution and promoting renewable energies, lowering the costs of renewable energies, and helping create green jobs.[15]
He is a staunch advocate for revitalizing Burrard Thermal, a former fossil fuel-powered power plant located on the Burrard Inlet into a home for clean technology or climate mitigation projects.[15]
As Parliamentary Secretary for Technology, Glumac championed innovation in the clean technologies as a tool for transitioning towards a green economy.[15] He has advocated support for BC's clean energy and tech sectors which play an increasingly important role in the provincial economy.
As President of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), Glumac secured funding to create PNWER Canada and the hiring of PNWER's first staff member in Canada.[17] This allowed PNWER to initiate cross-border economic development projects. The first cross-border project was announced in July 2024, which was an analysis of hydrogen economy opportunities between Washington State and the British Columbia. The study will release recommendations in late 2024.
Personal life
[edit]On May 11, 2022, Rick Glumac proposed[18] to his partner Haven Lurbiecki in the legislature, prior to question period. Rick is the first member of the legislative assembly to propose in the legislature and likely the first in Canada. Australian MP Tim Wilson proposed to his partner during a speech to Parliament in 2017.
Electoral record
[edit]| 2020 British Columbia general election: Port Moody-Coquitlam | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Rick Glumac | 12,783 | 53.75 | +6.06 | $41,007.46 | |||
| Liberal | James Robertson | 7,253 | 30.50 | −9.70 | $43,575.39 | |||
| Green | John Latimer | 2,802 | 11.78 | −0.33 | $1,920.08 | |||
| Conservative | Brandon Fonseca | 800 | 3.36 | – | $250.00 | |||
| Libertarian | Logan Smith | 144 | 0.61 | – | $0.00 | |||
| Total valid votes | 23,782 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Registered voters | ||||||||
| Source: Elections BC[19][20] | ||||||||
| 2017 British Columbia general election: Port Moody-Coquitlam | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Rick Glumac | 11,754 | 47.69 | +3.40 | $64,112 | |||
| Liberal | Linda Reimer | 9,910 | 40.20 | −6.18 | $65,386 | |||
| Green | Don Barthel | 2,985 | 12.11 | +3.92 | $1,056 | |||
| Total valid votes | 24,649 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 137 | 0.55 | −0.08 | |||||
| Turnout | 24,786 | 65.31 | +6.56 | |||||
| Registered voters | 37,950 | |||||||
| Source: Elections BC[21][22] | ||||||||
References
[edit]
- ^ a b "NDP makes gains in Tri-Cities, Burnaby with upsets". CBC News British Columbia, May 9, 2017.
- ^ Premier, Office of the (July 18, 2017). "Premier John Horgan announces new cabinet to build a better B.C." news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b "Port Moody politician to work with Washington State on high-speed rail". Tri-City News. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Premier, Office of the (April 19, 2023). "Province strengthens cross-border collaboration through expanded role, new funding | BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Rick Glumac". www.leg.bc.ca. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b "Rick Glumac". IMDb. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b Staff Writer. "Rick Glumac aims for second term on Port Moody council". Tri-City News. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "Port Moody election results 2014: Full results". Global News. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "FIPPA for the Future" (PDF). leg.bc.ca.
- ^ "Children and Youth with Neuro-Diverse Special Needs" (PDF). leg.bc.ca.
- ^ "Transforming Policing and Community Safety in British Columbia" (PDF). leg.bc.ca.
- ^ "Modernizing British Columbia's Private Sector Privacy Law" (PDF). leg.bc.ca.
- ^ Glumac, Rick (April 3, 2019). "Why healthcare for people in the Tri-Cities is going to get a whole lot better | BC Matters". bcmatters.ca. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ Strandberg, Diane. "ERH expansion to proceed without land sale — Dix". Tri-City News. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "MLA Glumac advocates in legislature for tackling climate change while boosting Port Moody economy". New Democrat BC Government Caucus. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "Tuesday, October 16, 2018, p.m., Issue 159". www.leg.bc.ca. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ "PNWER Staff". PNWER. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ "BC MLA Proposed to Partner in Legislature". globalnews.ca.
- ^ "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
- ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 12, 2020.