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Rick Thorpe

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Rick Thorpe
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Okanagan-Westside
Okanagan-Penticton (1996-2001)
In office
May 28, 1996 – May 12, 2009
Preceded byJim Beattie
Succeeded byBen Stewart
Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise of British Columbia
In office
June 5, 2001 – January 26, 2004
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Minister of Provincial Revenue of British Columbia
In office
January 26, 2004 – June 23, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byBill Barisoff
Succeeded byKevin Krueger
Minister responsible for Deregulation of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byKevin Falcon (Minister of State for Deregulation)[a]
Succeeded byKevin Krueger
Minister of Small Business of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byJohn Les
Succeeded byKevin Krueger
Personal details
Born
Richard Thorpe

1945 or 1946 (age 78–79)[1]
London, Ontario, Canada[2]
Political partyBC Liberal
Spouse
Yasmin John-Thorpe
​
(m. 1973)​
Residence(s)Summerland, British Columbia, Canada

Rick Thorpe is a Canadian politician. He was formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing Okanagan-Penticton from 1996 to 2001, and Okanagan-Westside from 2001 to 2009. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in several cabinet posts under Premier Gordon Campbell.

Biography

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Born in London, Ontario,[2] Thorpe grew up in the southwestern part of that province before meeting his wife Yasmin in Trinidad. The couple married in 1973, and have three children together.[3][4] A Certified Management Accountant, Thorpe was employed in the brewing industry for 22 years, including at Labatt.[3][5] The family lived in various places in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Israel before settling in Penticton, British Columbia, where Thorpe became a partner in a winery.[2][5] He also served as president of the Okanagan Wine Festival in 1994 and 1995.[3]

He was nominated as the BC Liberal candidate in Okanagan-Penticton in May 1995, and was elected the riding's MLA in the 1996 provincial election.[3][5] While the Liberals were the official opposition, Thorpe served as critic for small business, tourism and culture.[3][4] With the riding being redistributed ahead of the 2001 election, Thorpe ran instead in Okanagan-Westside and was re-elected MLA there.[3] The Liberals gained power in that election, and Thorpe was appointed to the cabinet by Premier Gordon Campbell that June to serve as Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise, before being re-assigned as Minister of Provincial Revenue in January 2004.[6]

Following his re-election in 2005, his cabinet post was modified to Minister of Small Business and Revenue, and he was additionally named Minister responsible for Deregulation.[6] In June 2008 he announced his decision not to run in the next provincial election,[1] and was dropped from the cabinet.[6][7]

After finishing his term as MLA in May 2009, he served a two-year term as member of the board of management of the Canada Revenue Agency, then as the board's chair from 2013 to 2017.[2][8][9] In addition, he served as director and vice-chair on the board of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia from 2012 to 2014.[9][10]

Electoral record

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2001 British Columbia general election: Okanagan-Westside
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
Liberal Rick Thorpe 14,181 68.08 $39,628
New Democratic Ernie Dmetro Ursuliak 3,176 15.25 $4,535
Unity Howard Lionel Hunt 1,364 6.55 $591
Marijuana Teresa Taylor 1,188 5.70 $1,120
Action Jack W. Peach 921 4.42 $1,186
Total valid votes 20,830 100.00
Total rejected ballots 127 0.61
Turnout 20,957 69.91
2005 British Columbia general election: Okanagan-Westside
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Rick Thorpe 12,148 54.39
New Democratic Joyce Procure 6,873 30.77
Green Angela Reid 2,262 10.13
Democratic Reform Janice Marie Money 1,051 4.71
Total 22,334 100.00

Notes

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  1. ^ Position vacant from January 26, 2004 to June 16, 2005.

References

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  1. ^ a b Moore, Wayne (June 20, 2008). "Rick Thorpe won't seek re-election". Castanet. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "In conversation with... Rick Thorpe". Penticton Herald. August 29, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "38th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 14, 2009: MLA: Rick Thorpe". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Thorpe, Hon. Rick, C.M.A. (Okanagan-Westside) Minister of Provincial Revenue". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Thorpes bring background of giving to PRH campaign". Penticton Western News. December 14, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "Premier names new cabinet heading into election". CBC News. June 23, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Kidd, Steve (October 8, 2013). "Former MLA Thorpe named to Revenue Canada board". Penticton Western News. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Section 3 – Introduction to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA): Biographies". Canada Revenue Agency. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Fowlie, Jonathan (August 15, 2012). "ICBC spending comes under the microscope as executive pay set to be revealed". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
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