Political party Liberal Succeeding John van Dongen Role Politician | Name Darryl Plecas Profession criminologist | |
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Party British Columbia Liberal Party | ||
B.C. legislature officials face overspending allegations | Power & Politics
Darryl Plecas (born 1951 or 1952) is a Canadian politician and current Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2013 provincial election representing the British Columbia Liberal Party. He represents the electoral district of Abbotsford South. He was removed from the Liberal Party, and is sitting as an Independent after being elected Speaker by the New Democratic and Green government.
Contents
- BC legislature officials face overspending allegations Power Politics
- Darryl plecas mla acceptance speech
- Background
- Political career
- References
Darryl plecas mla acceptance speech
Background
Plecas holds two degrees in Criminology from Simon Fraser University, and a doctorate in Higher Education from the University of British Columbia.
Plecas was a criminologist and a faculty member at the University of the Fraser Valley, where he worked for 34 years, and helped turn the criminal justice program from a college diploma into a fully credited degree program.
Political career
Plecas served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Crime Reduction from June 10, 2013 to January 29, 2015. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors on January 30, 2015.
At a Liberal caucus meeting held in July 2017, shortly after the government of Christy Clark lost power following its defeat in a confidence vote, Plecas called for Clark's resignation as party leader and threatened to quit the Liberal caucus and sit as an Independent MLA if she remained. Later that month, Clark announced her resignation as leader.
On September 8, 2017, he was acclaimed Speaker of the British Columbia legislature after previously telling caucus colleagues that he would not run for the position. His taking of the position, along with the support of Green Party MLAs, allows the British Columbia New Democratic Party minority government to have a working majority in the legislature. The BC Liberal Party revoked his membership the day after he accepted the speakership, forcing him to sit as an Independent.