Joyce Murray
Encyclopedia
Joyce Murray is a Canadian
politician. She currently represents the electoral district of Vancouver Quadra
as a Liberal
Member of the Canadian House of Commons
, and was previously a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 2001 to 2005.
in Vancouver, did her undergraduate studies in Simon Fraser University in the early seventies, studying linguistics, archeology and completing pre-med. In 1990 she returned to SFU's EMBA program and graduated with the Dean's medal in 1992.
She is the daughter of Charlotte Coe Murray who is a pioneer architect in designing and building affordable community and senior housing. Joyce Murray's father, Gordon Murray, was the founder of Murray & Associates Surveying and Northwest Hydrographics Underwater Surveying.
Ms. Murray co-founded Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd with her husband Dirk Brinkman in the seventies. Together they grew reforestation operations across Canada and down into Central America and diversified into ecosystem restoration, forest management and mixed species tropical plantation investment. In 2010, the company planted its billionth tree.
She and Dirk have three grown children, Baba Brinkman, Erik Brinkman and Dawn Brinkman.
, she was the first Liberal in 49 years to be elected to the electoral district
of New Westminster. She served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
as a cabinet minister from 2001 to 2005, serving as Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection to January 2004 and as Minister of Management Services until June 2005.
As Minister of Water, Land, and Air Protection, she worked with environmental advocates, tourism associations and regional organizations to complete the protection of Spruce Lake Park, and also raised provincial fees for industrial and municipal waste discharges by 48 per cent. In the first sitting of the new cabinet, also the first televised, she secured $25 million to co-establish the Southern Gulf Islands National Park to complement funding from the federal Minister of the Environment, David Anderson.
Murray implemented First Nations co-management of provincial parks both along the coast of British Columbia and in its northern interior, and secured $18 million to purchase and protect Burns Bog
, the largest domed bog in North America.
Murray also introduced the first comprehensive framework strategy for total product stewardship
for recycling for all products in British Columbia. Product stewardship regulations required producers to assume responsibility for removing their products from the waste stream. She convened the thirteen oil producers in the province and required that they develop a cooperative solution to recycle all of the waste oil, plastic (from containers) and steel wool from oil filters. At that time over 22 million litres of oil was entering the GVRD waste stream annually. She brought the electronics industry under the product stewardship framework to develop solutions for all electronics waste. Ministries of Environment from other provinces have studied this legislation and introduced similar regulations.
As the president of the Canadian Ministers of the Environment in 2003, Murray lead an initiative to put children's health and the environment onto the national CCME agenda.
She initiated the first ground water protection regulation and the first integrated pest management
legislation in British Columbia. During her tenure the Ministry of the Environment secured increased power to regulate pollution, and was freed of the previous requirement during compliance and enforcement, to secure the cooperation of any other ministries involved.
As a Minister, Murray also encouraged innovation throughout the organization. Under her leadership, the Ministry was able to maintain high environmental standards, improve services to clients and reduce costs because she advocated for and achieved changes to provincial environmental protection legislation and regulations that allowed for the application of risk-based approaches and increased reliance on industry and other partners. In the case of contaminated sites, for example, external experts were authorized to handle all low risk contaminated sites, leaving ministry staff to focus on higher risk sites. The need for these changes had been recognized in the ministry and the community for a long time. She had the commitment and stamina to convince her Cabinet colleagues that the time had come to implement changes that would allow continued protection for the environment in an increasingly complicated regulatory environment where there was pressure to significantly reduce environmental standards and enforcement.
She also encouraged cultural change in the organization as well and her support for new approaches to doing business helped staff build a high trust, high performing team committed to achieving critical goals. Working with an Advisory Group made up of industry, government and academics, Murray was instrumental in developing the first comprehensive climate change action plan for British Columbia (although it was not actually implemented until after 2005, the major groundwork was achieved through this group). Seeking to build and encourage partnerships across borders, the Ministry collaborated with jurisdictions that share stewardship of an airshed or watershed on joint initiatives designed to improve environmental quality while allowing for population growth and economic development, e.g. Georgia Basin/Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy, a multi-agency, Canada-US effort to address air pollution and its impacts in this airshed, which includes Vancouver and Seattle.
She was defeated by Chuck Puchmayr
in the 2005 election
.
candidate in New Westminster—Coquitlam
in the 2006 federal election
, but was not elected. She was nominated as the federal Liberal candidate in Vancouver Quadra
for the by-election held on March 17, 2008, following the resignation of Stephen Owen
, and successfully retained the riding for the Liberals on by-election night, defeating Conservative candidate Deborah Meredith by 151 votes.
During this term she sat on the Standing Parliamentary Committee on International Trade and visited Colombia and Panama to review proposed Free Trade Agreements. She was Vice-Chair the Liberal Caucus Committee on Environmental Sustainability. She presented her first private members bill, Bill C-572, in June 2008, proposing to exempt bikes (including electric bikes) and bike accessories, repairs and safety training from GST. As a known advocate for complementary medicine she worked to stop Bill C51 from going forward.
Joyce Murray was re-elected in the general election on October 14, 2008 defeating Conservative candidate Deborah Meredith again, this time with a larger margin of 5000 votes. She was appointed as the Critic for Democratic Reform in November, 2008. In February 2009 she was elected by her MP colleagues to co-chair of the Parliamentary Committee On Health, and was appointed by Michael Ignatieff as the Official Liaison to the Government of British Columbia for the Liberal Party.
Leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Michael Ignatieff appointed Ms. Murray as the Liberal Critic for Amateur Sport.
Joyce currently sits on the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and is proud to remain the BC Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison and the Amateur Sports Critic in the Liberal Caucus. As an active member of the Canada-China Legislative Association, Joyce is steadfast in helping to strengthen Canada’s ties with China and the Asia-Pacific, as well as increasing investment in local small and medium size businesses.
In February 2011 Joyce Murray tabled the private members Bill C606, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (prohibition against the transportation of oil by oil tankers on Canada's Pacific North Coast).
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...
politician. She currently represents the electoral district of Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver Quadra is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Member of 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...
, and was previously a BC Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 2001 to 2005.
Background
Ms Murray graduated from Lord Byng Secondary SchoolLord Byng Secondary School
Lord Byng Secondary School is a grade 8-12 school located in the West Point Grey neighbourhood on the west side of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
in Vancouver, did her undergraduate studies in Simon Fraser University in the early seventies, studying linguistics, archeology and completing pre-med. In 1990 she returned to SFU's EMBA program and graduated with the Dean's medal in 1992.
She is the daughter of Charlotte Coe Murray who is a pioneer architect in designing and building affordable community and senior housing. Joyce Murray's father, Gordon Murray, was the founder of Murray & Associates Surveying and Northwest Hydrographics Underwater Surveying.
Ms. Murray co-founded Brinkman & Associates Reforestation Ltd with her husband Dirk Brinkman in the seventies. Together they grew reforestation operations across Canada and down into Central America and diversified into ecosystem restoration, forest management and mixed species tropical plantation investment. In 2010, the company planted its billionth tree.
She and Dirk have three grown children, Baba Brinkman, Erik Brinkman and Dawn Brinkman.
Career in provincial politics
First elected to the provincial legislature in the 2001 provincial electionBritish 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...
, she was the first Liberal in 49 years to be elected to the electoral district
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...
of New Westminster. She served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
as a cabinet minister from 2001 to 2005, serving as Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection to January 2004 and as Minister of Management Services until June 2005.
As Minister of Water, Land, and Air Protection, she worked with environmental advocates, tourism associations and regional organizations to complete the protection of Spruce Lake Park, and also raised provincial fees for industrial and municipal waste discharges by 48 per cent. In the first sitting of the new cabinet, also the first televised, she secured $25 million to co-establish the Southern Gulf Islands National Park to complement funding from the federal Minister of the Environment, David Anderson.
Murray implemented First Nations co-management of provincial parks both along the coast of British Columbia and in its northern interior, and secured $18 million to purchase and protect Burns Bog
Burns Bog
The Burns Bog is the largest domed peat bog on the west coast of North America. It covers an area of about and occupies a quarter of Delta, British Columbia, about southeast of downtown Vancouver, and is bounded by BC Highway 10 on its south, the Annacis Highway on its east, and River Road, along...
, the largest domed bog in North America.
Murray also introduced the first comprehensive framework strategy for total product stewardship
Product stewardship
Product stewardship is a concept whereby environmental protection centers around the product itself, and everyone involved in the lifespan of the product is called upon to take up responsibility to reduce its environmental impact. For manufacturers, this includes planning for, and if necessary,...
for recycling for all products in British Columbia. Product stewardship regulations required producers to assume responsibility for removing their products from the waste stream. She convened the thirteen oil producers in the province and required that they develop a cooperative solution to recycle all of the waste oil, plastic (from containers) and steel wool from oil filters. At that time over 22 million litres of oil was entering the GVRD waste stream annually. She brought the electronics industry under the product stewardship framework to develop solutions for all electronics waste. Ministries of Environment from other provinces have studied this legislation and introduced similar regulations.
As the president of the Canadian Ministers of the Environment in 2003, Murray lead an initiative to put children's health and the environment onto the national CCME agenda.
She initiated the first ground water protection regulation and the first integrated pest management
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated pest management is an ecological approach to agricultural pest control that integrates pesticides/herbicides into a management system incorporating a range of practices for economic control of a pest...
legislation in British Columbia. During her tenure the Ministry of the Environment secured increased power to regulate pollution, and was freed of the previous requirement during compliance and enforcement, to secure the cooperation of any other ministries involved.
As a Minister, Murray also encouraged innovation throughout the organization. Under her leadership, the Ministry was able to maintain high environmental standards, improve services to clients and reduce costs because she advocated for and achieved changes to provincial environmental protection legislation and regulations that allowed for the application of risk-based approaches and increased reliance on industry and other partners. In the case of contaminated sites, for example, external experts were authorized to handle all low risk contaminated sites, leaving ministry staff to focus on higher risk sites. The need for these changes had been recognized in the ministry and the community for a long time. She had the commitment and stamina to convince her Cabinet colleagues that the time had come to implement changes that would allow continued protection for the environment in an increasingly complicated regulatory environment where there was pressure to significantly reduce environmental standards and enforcement.
She also encouraged cultural change in the organization as well and her support for new approaches to doing business helped staff build a high trust, high performing team committed to achieving critical goals. Working with an Advisory Group made up of industry, government and academics, Murray was instrumental in developing the first comprehensive climate change action plan for British Columbia (although it was not actually implemented until after 2005, the major groundwork was achieved through this group). Seeking to build and encourage partnerships across borders, the Ministry collaborated with jurisdictions that share stewardship of an airshed or watershed on joint initiatives designed to improve environmental quality while allowing for population growth and economic development, e.g. Georgia Basin/Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy, a multi-agency, Canada-US effort to address air pollution and its impacts in this airshed, which includes Vancouver and Seattle.
She was defeated by Chuck Puchmayr
Chuck Puchmayr
Charles "Chuck" Puchmayr is a former Canadian politician, who was an MLA for New Westminster in British Columbia from 2005 to 2009. He is a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party....
in the 2005 election
British Columbia general election, 2005
The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...
.
Federal politics
Murray subsequently stood as the federal LiberalLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
candidate in New Westminster—Coquitlam
New Westminster—Coquitlam
New Westminster—Coquitlam is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988, and since 2004.-Demographics:...
in the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, but was not elected. She was nominated as the federal Liberal candidate in Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver Quadra
Vancouver Quadra is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1949....
for the by-election held on March 17, 2008, following the resignation of Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen, PC is the Vice-President of External, Legal and Community Relations for the University of British Columbia. He is a former Canadian politician....
, and successfully retained the riding for the Liberals on by-election night, defeating Conservative candidate Deborah Meredith by 151 votes.
During this term she sat on the Standing Parliamentary Committee on International Trade and visited Colombia and Panama to review proposed Free Trade Agreements. She was Vice-Chair the Liberal Caucus Committee on Environmental Sustainability. She presented her first private members bill, Bill C-572, in June 2008, proposing to exempt bikes (including electric bikes) and bike accessories, repairs and safety training from GST. As a known advocate for complementary medicine she worked to stop Bill C51 from going forward.
Joyce Murray was re-elected in the general election on October 14, 2008 defeating Conservative candidate Deborah Meredith again, this time with a larger margin of 5000 votes. She was appointed as the Critic for Democratic Reform in November, 2008. In February 2009 she was elected by her MP colleagues to co-chair of the Parliamentary Committee On Health, and was appointed by Michael Ignatieff as the Official Liaison to the Government of British Columbia for the Liberal Party.
Leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Michael Ignatieff appointed Ms. Murray as the Liberal Critic for Amateur Sport.
Joyce currently sits on the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the Standing Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and is proud to remain the BC Intergovernmental Affairs Liaison and the Amateur Sports Critic in the Liberal Caucus. As an active member of the Canada-China Legislative Association, Joyce is steadfast in helping to strengthen Canada’s ties with China and the Asia-Pacific, as well as increasing investment in local small and medium size businesses.
In February 2011 Joyce Murray tabled the private members Bill C606, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (prohibition against the transportation of oil by oil tankers on Canada's Pacific North Coast).