Adrian Dix

Canadian politician (born 1964)

The Honourable

Adrian Dix

MLA

Dix in 2016

Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions of British Columbia

Incumbent

Assumed office
November 18, 2024
Premier| David Eby
Preceded by| Josie Osborne (Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation)
Minister of Health of British Columbia
In office
July 18, 2017 – November 18, 2024
Premier|

* John Horgan
* David Eby

Preceded by| Mary Polak
Succeeded by| Josie Osborne
Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs of British Columbia

Incumbent

Assumed office
September 27, 2017
Premier|

* John Horgan
* David Eby

Member of the
British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Renfrew
Vancouver-Kingsway (2005–2024)

Incumbent

Assumed office
May 17, 2005
Preceded by| Rob Nijjar
Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia
In office
April 17, 2011 – May 4, 2014
Preceded by| Dawn Black
Succeeded by| John Horgan
Leader of the
British Columbia New Democratic Party
In office
April 17, 2011 – May 4, 2014
Preceded by| Dawn Black
Succeeded by| John Horgan
Personal details
Born|  (1964-04-20) April 20, 1964 (age 60)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Political party| BC NDP
Spouse| Renée Saklikar
Residence(s)| Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Occupation| Politician

Adrian Dix MLA (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. Since 2024, he is the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, and has been Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs since 2017. Previously, he was Minister of Health under premiers John Horgan and David Eby.

## Personal life

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Early career

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

Having served as health minister since 2017, Dix oversaw B.C.'s response to the COVID-19 pandemic but also faced sustained criticism for difficulties facing the provincial healthcare system. Following the 2024 election, in which healthcare was a major issue, Dix was shuffled out of the health file by Premier Eby and was named Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions.

## Election results

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

2024 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Renfrew

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures
| New Democratic | Adrian Dix | 10,983 | 63.2% | -4.61 |
| Conservative | Tom Ikonomou | 5,327 | 30.7% |  |
| Green | Lawrence Taylor | 1,064 | 6.1% | -3.06 |
Total valid votes  | 17,374 | -
Total rejected ballots  |
Turnout  |
Registered voters  |
Source: Elections BC[27]
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

[edit]

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"A1+-+A9&rft_id=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vancouver-sun-election-battle-boils/139578743/&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Adrian+Dix" class="Z3988">
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. ^ https://globalnews.ca/news/10779127/bc-election-2024-results-vancouver-renfrew/
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.

## External links

[edit]

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