Jack Weisgerber
Encyclopedia
John Sylvester Weisgerber is a Canadian politician
and businessman. He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia
. During his political career he was briefly the leader of both the British Columbia Social Credit Party
and the Reform Party of British Columbia
. After leaving politics, he was appointed to the board of BC Hydro
in 2001, and currently serves as a member of the British Columbia Treaty Commission.
as a Social Credit Party of British Columbia candidate for Peace River South
. He served in the Social Credit government in several posts including Minister of State for the Northeast and Nechako, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and as British Columbia's first Minister of Native Affairs.
When Social Credit was soundly defeated in 1991
, Weisgerber was one of only seven Socred candidates to win re-election. Weisgerber became interim leader of the party.
In 1994, after failed attempts to revive the party, Weisgerber became one of four Social Credit members of the legislature to switch allegiances, joining the fledgling Reform Party of British Columbia
. BC Reform, as it was known, espoused similar policies to the Reform Party of Canada
, but was a separate entity.
Weisgerber ran for the BC Reform leadership and was elected party leader in late 1994. Through 1995 and in the months before the 1996 election, Weisgerber faced challenges by some members of his party from southern Vancouver Island.
In the May 1996 election, the BC Reform Party won nine percent of the popular vote and two seats in the legislature, one of which was Weisgerber's in Peace River South. However, the party failed to win the four seats required for official party status in the British Columbia legislature. A split in the centre-right vote between Weisgerber's BC Reform Party and Gordon Campbell's Liberals is cited as a factor for the New Democratic Party winning the 1996 BC election.
Weisgerber resigned as BC Reform's leader in late 1996, and was replaced by Wilf Hanni
in September 1997. Following a bruising round of party in-fighting, Weisgerber left Reform to sit as an independent member of the BC legislature.
Weisgerber served out his third and final term in the BC legislature. Shortly before the 2001
provincial election, Weisgerber endorsed the BC Liberals and their leader, Gordon Campbell.
He was appointed by the BC Liberal government to be a director for the state-run provincial power utility, BC Hydro
, on September 25, 2001.
He is presently a Commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and businessman. He is a former member of the Legislative Assembly in 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...
. During his political career he was briefly the leader of both the British Columbia 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...
and the Reform Party of British Columbia
Reform Party of British Columbia
The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
. After leaving politics, he was appointed to the board of BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
in 2001, and currently serves as a member of the British Columbia Treaty Commission.
Political career
Weisgerber was first elected to the British Columbia legislature in 1986British Columbia general election, 1986
The British Columbia general election of 1986 was the 34th general election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 24, 1986...
as a Social Credit Party of British Columbia candidate for Peace River South
Peace River South
Peace River South is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was created under the name South Peace River by the Constitution Amendment Act, 1955, which split the old riding of Peace River into northern and southern portions for the 1956 B.C....
. He served in the Social Credit government in several posts including Minister of State for the Northeast and Nechako, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and as British Columbia's first Minister of Native Affairs.
When Social Credit was soundly defeated in 1991
British Columbia general election, 1991
The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...
, Weisgerber was one of only seven Socred candidates to win re-election. Weisgerber became interim leader of the party.
In 1994, after failed attempts to revive the party, Weisgerber became one of four Social Credit members of the legislature to switch allegiances, joining the fledgling Reform Party of British Columbia
Reform Party of British Columbia
The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
. BC Reform, as it was known, espoused similar policies to the Reform Party of Canada
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....
, but was a separate entity.
Weisgerber ran for the BC Reform leadership and was elected party leader in late 1994. Through 1995 and in the months before the 1996 election, Weisgerber faced challenges by some members of his party from southern Vancouver Island.
In the May 1996 election, the BC Reform Party won nine percent of the popular vote and two seats in the legislature, one of which was Weisgerber's in Peace River South. However, the party failed to win the four seats required for official party status in the British Columbia legislature. A split in the centre-right vote between Weisgerber's BC Reform Party and Gordon Campbell's Liberals is cited as a factor for the New Democratic Party winning the 1996 BC election.
Weisgerber resigned as BC Reform's leader in late 1996, and was replaced by Wilf Hanni
Wilf Hanni
Wilf Hanni is a politician and oil industry consultant in British Columbia, Canada. Hanni served as leader of the Reform Party of British Columbia from August 30, 1997 to June 1998, and later as leader of the British Columbia Party...
in September 1997. Following a bruising round of party in-fighting, Weisgerber left Reform to sit as an independent member of the BC legislature.
Weisgerber served out his third and final term in the BC legislature. Shortly before the 2001
British Columbia general election, 2001
The British Columbia general election of 2001 was the 37th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 18, 2001, and held on May 16, 2001...
provincial election, Weisgerber endorsed the BC Liberals and their leader, Gordon Campbell.
He was appointed by the BC Liberal government to be a director for the state-run provincial power utility, BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
, on September 25, 2001.
He is presently a Commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission.