Burnaby—Seymour
Encyclopedia
Burnaby—Seymour was a federal electoral district
in the province
of British Columbia
, Canada
, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons
from 1968 to 1979.
This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Burnaby—Coquitlam
, Burnaby—Richmond
and Coast—Capilano
ridings. The riding originally consisted of the eastern part of North Vancouver
plus areas of Burnaby north of the Grandview Highway and Edmonds Avenue, west of Sperling and north of Pandora Street. That is, North Vancouver east of Lynn Creek plus the Burnaby Heights, Capitol Hill, Brentwood and Deer Lake neighbourhoods of Burnaby.
The riding's first election, in 1968
, is notable for being a showdown between the former leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party
, Ray Perrault, and federal New Democratic Party
leader Tommy Douglas
. Given that the North Shore portions of the riding were largely affluent and upper middle class in character and normally a Liberal bastion, Douglas' strong showing is not so surprising given the working-class and labour background of much of even the better-off parts of the riding in Burnaby.
When this riding was redistributed in 1976, the resulting Burnaby
riding consistently returned NDP candidates - this was Svend Robinson
's longtime seat. North Vancouver—Burnaby
returned a Progressive Conservative
member (Chuck Cook
) since its creation until it was abolished in 1987, as did its successor riding, the seat of North Vancouver
until Reform Party
member Ted White took over the seat on Cook's retirement.
In provincial politics, the equivalent area of North Vancouver was among the last holdouts of the provincial Liberal Party
prior to it losing its support base to the Social Credit Party
in the early 1980s. Jim Nielsen, who first unsuccessfully ran for the Progressive Conservative Party in Burnaby-Seymour in 1974 was subsequently elected in the 1975 provincial election as the MLA for Richmond. He was appointed as a cabinet minister and remained the MLA for Richmond until his resignation from provincial politics in 1986.
!align="right" colspan=7|1 Later a cabinet minister in the provincial Social Credit government of Premier
William Richards Bennett.
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
in the province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
from 1968 to 1979.
This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Burnaby—Coquitlam
Burnaby—Coquitlam
Burnaby—Coquitlam was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1953 to 1968.This riding was created in 1952 from parts of Burnaby—Richmond riding....
, Burnaby—Richmond
Burnaby—Richmond
Burnaby—Richmond was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1979....
and Coast—Capilano
Coast—Capilano
Coast-Capilano was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1949 to 1968.This riding was created in 1947 from parts of Vancouver North riding....
ridings. The riding originally consisted of the eastern part of North Vancouver
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
plus areas of Burnaby north of the Grandview Highway and Edmonds Avenue, west of Sperling and north of Pandora Street. That is, North Vancouver east of Lynn Creek plus the Burnaby Heights, Capitol Hill, Brentwood and Deer Lake neighbourhoods of Burnaby.
The riding's first election, in 1968
Canadian federal election, 1968
The Canadian federal election of 1968 was held on June 25, 1968, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 28th Parliament of Canada...
, is notable for being a showdown between the former leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
, Ray Perrault, and federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
leader Tommy Douglas
Tommy Douglas
Thomas Clement "Tommy" Douglas, was a Scottish-born Baptist minister who became a prominent Canadian social democratic politician...
. Given that the North Shore portions of the riding were largely affluent and upper middle class in character and normally a Liberal bastion, Douglas' strong showing is not so surprising given the working-class and labour background of much of even the better-off parts of the riding in Burnaby.
When this riding was redistributed in 1976, the resulting Burnaby
Burnaby (electoral district)
Burnaby was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988.This riding was created in 1976 from parts of Burnaby—Richmond—Delta, Burnaby—Seymour and New Westminster ridings...
riding consistently returned NDP candidates - this was Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson
Svend Robinson is a former Canadian politician. He was a Member of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 2004, representing the suburban Vancouver-area constituency of Burnaby for the New Democratic Party...
's longtime seat. North Vancouver—Burnaby
North Vancouver—Burnaby
North Vancouver—Burnaby was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988.This riding was created in 1976 from parts of Burnaby—Seymour and Capilano ridings....
returned a Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
member (Chuck Cook
Chuck Cook
Charles Henry "Chuck" Cook was a broadcaster and politician in Canada.Cook was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He became a CJOR radio talk show host in Vancouver, British Columbia in the 1970s. He served as Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament from 1979 to 1993 in the riding of North...
) since its creation until it was abolished in 1987, as did its successor riding, the seat of North Vancouver
North Vancouver (electoral district)
North Vancouver is a federal electoral district in the province of British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1988.-Demographics:-Geography:...
until Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
member Ted White took over the seat on Cook's retirement.
In provincial politics, the equivalent area of North Vancouver was among the last holdouts of the provincial Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
prior to it losing its support base to the Social Credit Party
British Columbia Social Credit Party
The British Columbia Social Credit Party, whose members are known as Socreds, was the governing political party of British Columbia, Canada, for more than 30 years between the 1952 provincial election and the 1991 election...
in the early 1980s. Jim Nielsen, who first unsuccessfully ran for the Progressive Conservative Party in Burnaby-Seymour in 1974 was subsequently elected in the 1975 provincial election as the MLA for Richmond. He was appointed as a cabinet minister and remained the MLA for Richmond until his resignation from provincial politics in 1986.
Election results
|- bgcolor="white"!align="right" colspan=7|1 Later a cabinet minister in the provincial Social Credit government of Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
William Richards Bennett.
Successor ridings
The riding was abolished in 1976. Successor ridings were:- BurnabyBurnaby (electoral district)Burnaby was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988.This riding was created in 1976 from parts of Burnaby—Richmond—Delta, Burnaby—Seymour and New Westminster ridings...
- North Vancouver—BurnabyNorth Vancouver—BurnabyNorth Vancouver—Burnaby was a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988.This riding was created in 1976 from parts of Burnaby—Seymour and Capilano ridings....
See also
- List of Canadian federal electoral districts
- Past Canadian electoral districts
External links
- Riding history from the Library of ParliamentLibrary of ParliamentThe Library of Parliament is the main information repository and research resource for the Parliament of Canada...