Jane Thornthwaite
Jane Thornthwaite (born 1958 or 1959) is a Canadian politician and activist who was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2009 provincial election. In 2017 she was re-elected to a third term as member of the BC Liberal Party in the riding of North Vancouver-Seymour. Thornthwaite currently serves as the Official Opposition's critic role on Mental Health and Addictions and has been appointed to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts.[2]
Jane Thornthwaite MLA | |
---|---|
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for North Vancouver-Seymour | |
Assumed office May 12, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Daniel Jarvis |
Personal details | |
Born | 1958/1959 (age 61–62)[1] |
Political party | BC Liberal |
Residence | North Vancouver, British Columbia |
Occupation | Politician, dietitian, activist |
Background
Thornthwaite was raised in West Vancouver, attending Hillside Secondary School and also in North Vancouver, attending Windsor Secondary School. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in health education. Prior to her election to the legislature, Thornthwaite worked as a registered dietitian and nutritionist for her own consulting business.[3] According to Thornthwaite, working in that field fostered a sense of advocacy for organic foods[4] and a desire for labelling of food products containing genetically modified ingredients.[5] During that time she raised three children of her own.
Local Politics
In 2005, Thornthwaite stood as an independent[6] in the North Vancouver School District election. She received the most votes, making her one of four candidates elected from the District of North Vancouver.[6] The school board, facing declining enrollments, had to close schools, though there was resistance from the community. Balmoral Junior Secondary School was specifically identified as a school that ought to be closed, though the board refused and kept it open (until 2009) due to public pressure.[7] Thornthwaite, along with another board member, issued a public statement criticizing the board's decision to enter into a public-private partnership to deliver courses specializing in dance, figure skating and other related disciplines.[8] In the November 2008 election, Thornthwaite was the only board member seeking re-election.[9] Entering her second term, Thornthwaite was elected chairperson of the board.
Provincial politics
First Term (2009-2013)
In March 2009, long-time Member of the Legislative Assembly Daniel Jarvis suddenly announced his retirement and endorsed Thornthwaite to replace him as a candidate in the upcoming provincial election, a recommendation later supported by the party's election readiness committee.[10][11][12] The electoral district was considered one of the safest BC Liberal ridings in the province[12] and the 50-year-old Thornthwaite easily won, with her BC Liberal Party winning a majority government.
On February 22, during the 2010 Winter Olympics, Thornthwaite was driving home after attending receptions at the Northern House and Sochi House when at 1 am she was stopped at a road block near the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing. She twice registered a blood alcohol content of 0.11 in road-side breathalyzer tests and was arrested for drunk driving.[13][14] The next day she issued a public apology stating "Drinking and driving is dangerous and completely unacceptable; I know that and make no excuses for what I did. I know what I did was wrong and I will take full responsibility for my actions."[15] At the trial, Thornthwaite argued that, while she did consume alcohol, she was not intoxicated.[14] The prosecution and defense agreed to a plea bargain requiring Thornthwaite to plead guilty to "driving without due care and attention" in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act, which came with a $500 fine and one-month of community service while allowing Thornthwaite to avoid a criminal record.[14][16]
Second Term (2013-2017)
Thornthwaite was re-elected to a second term on May 14, 2013.[17][18] She was appointed to the Select Standing Committee for Children and Youth, which she chaired,[19] and the Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying. The Committee released an interim report on youth mental health in B.C.,[20] followed by a more comprehensive report with recommendations titled, "Concrete Actions for Systemic Change", in 2016.[21][22] Many of the recommendations in the report were later adopted by government, including: supporting sexual and gender minority youth in schools through general and targeted programs,[23][24][25] appointing a Minister for Mental Health,[26][27] and Foundry, a collection of integrated, one-stop shop for youth ages 12 to 24 seeking a whole range of health care services, including mental health support, social services, employment services, and drug and alcohol programs.[28][29][30] Thornthwaite also assisted in having a North Shore peak named after longtime North Shore Rescue Team Leader, Tim Jones (Search and Rescue).[31][32]
Transportation
Thornthwaite was part of a group of elected officials who helped spearhead the Lower Lynn Improvement Project, which saw approval and funding for improvements to interchanges at the North end of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing.[33] The project was initially to cost $140-million,[34] but increased to $198-million after feedback and consultation with the public determined more infrastructure would result in a better project.[35][36][37][38]
Animal welfare
In 2012, Thornthwaite introduced legislation banning puppy mills in British Columbia, Bill M-214, known as the "Standards of Care for Breeders of Companion Animals Act".[39][40] The bill did not pass initially, but Thornthwaite re-introduced it in 2016 after a government raid rescued 66 mistreated dogs from a puppy mill.[41][42] The bill passed that April.[43]
Third Term (2017-Present)
Jane Thornthwaite was re-elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing North Vancouver-Seymour for a third term in May 2017 with 47 percent of the vote.[44] The Liberal Party's representative has typically won the vote for the North Vancouver-Seymour seat.[44] As part of the BC Liberal Party, Thornthwaite serves as a member of the Official Opposition.[45] She was appointed as official Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, a role similar to her prior work as Parliamentary Secretary of Mental Health for Children.[46]
Ridesharing
Thornthwaite has been a vocal proponent for bring ridesharing services, like Uber and Lyft, to the Metro Vancouver region. Vancouver remains the largest region in North America without ridesharing services.[47][48][49][50]
Skytrain to the North Shore and Transit
In 2017, Thornthwaite advocated for SkyTrain to be extended to the North Shore.[51][52][53][54] She proposed that the SkyTrain Line be extended across the Burrard Inlet by the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, and travel east towards Phibbs Exchange, Lonsdale Quay, and Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver.[55][56] An SFU sessional instructor and PhD student in the Department of Geography, Stephan Nieweler, released preliminary findings from the work of two fourth-year undergraduate students suggesting that adding a fixed-rail link across the North Shore and, eventually, plugging it into the SkyTrain system across Burrard Inlet would result in more people choosing to get out of their cars and onto transit than either the Surrey-Newton-Guildford line soon to start construction or the contemplated Broadway subway line from Arbutus to UBC.[57][58] Along with MLA Bowinn Ma, Thornthwaite has also lobbied TransLink for more SeaBus hours,[59] a more equitable fare structure,[60] and more bus service for the North Shore.[61][62]
Mental Health and Addictions
Since being appointed the Critic for Mental Health and Addictions, Thornthwaite has advocated for more treatment and recovery services to be made available in BC.[63][64] She has argued that making treatment more readily available will help those suffering from addiction get well.[65] Thornthwaite also re-introduced the Safe Care Act, a private members' bill that would give parents and case workers the power to have children dealing with issues of mental health, substance abuse and sexual exploitation held involuntarily for up to 30 days for assessment and to create a care plan. Many parents of youth who have died from overdose have advocated for the bill's passage.[66][67][68][69][70]
Electoral history
2017 British Columbia general election: North Vancouver-Seymour | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
Liberal | Jane Thornthwaite | 13,194 | 46.36 | |||||
New Democratic | Michael Rene Charrois | 9,808 | 34.47 | |||||
Green | Joshua Johnson | 5,208 | 18.30 | |||||
Libertarian | Clayton Welwood | 247 | 0.87 | |||||
Total valid votes | 28,457 | 100.00 | ||||||
Source: Elections BC[71] |
2013 British Columbia general election: North Vancouver-Seymour | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
Liberal | Jane Thornthwaite | 13,186 | 50.92 | –8.26 | $111,404 | |||
New Democratic | Jim Hanson | 8,524 | 32.92 | +5.54 | $86,982 | |||
Green | Daniel Scott Smith | 1,897 | 7.33 | –2.01 | $350 | |||
Conservative | Brian R. Wilson | 1,206 | 4.66 | +0.56 | $9,255 | |||
Independent | Jaime Alexandra Webbe | 1,081 | 4.17 | – | $3,800 | |||
Total valid votes | 25,894 | 100.00 | ||||||
Total rejected ballots | 89 | 0.34 | ||||||
Turnout | 25,983 | 66.99 | ||||||
Source: Elections BC[72] |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | Expenditures | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal | Jane Thornthwaite | 13,426 | 59 | $57,237 | ||
New Democratic | Maureen Norton | 6,212 | 27 | $17,589 | ||
Green | Daniel Quinn | 2,116 | 9 | – | $350 | |
Conservative | Gary Bickling Hee | 931 | 4 | $1,186 | ||
Total Valid Votes | 22,685 | 100 | ||||
Total Rejected Ballots | 100 | 0.4 | ||||
Turnout | 22,785 | 61 |
References
- Thornthwaite pleads to lesser charge than drunk driving Seyd, Jane. North Shore News [North Vancouver, B.C] 13 Apr 2011: 1.
- Jane Thornthwaite, BC Legislative Assembly
- "All-candidates meetings". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. November 6, 2005. p. 14.
- "New documentary reveals the perils of processed foods". WestEnder. Vancouver. May 26, 2005. p. 30.
- Gillett, Leslie (February 10, 1997). "What's in that spud? Genetically altered food concerns nutritionist". The Province. Vancouver. p. B3.
- Seyd, Jane (November 23, 2005). "NV school board gets three new trustees". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 5.
- Steffenhagen, Janet (December 7, 2007). "Trustees advised to close schools; Report says Balmoral junior secondary should be first to close its doors due to declining enrollment". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver. p. B5.
- Weldon, James (May 20, 2007). "Two NV trustees object to Pro-Merita program lease". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 1.
- Neufeld, Scott (October 31, 2008). "In Profile: District of North Vancouver school board candidates". The North Shore Outlook. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 8.
- "Retired Liberal MLA Dan Jarvis endorses Thornthwaite as his successor". The North Shore Outlook. North Vancouver, British Columbia. March 26, 2009. p. 1.
- "Thornthwaite to run as Liberal candidate in North Vancouver-Seymour". The North Shore Outlook. North Vancouver, British Columbia. April 7, 2009. p. 1.
- Seyd, Jane (April 8, 2009). "Liberals pick Thornthwaite for Seymour". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 1.
- Hunter, Justine (February 24, 2010). "B.C. MLA facing impaired driving charges". The Globe and Mail. p. S7.
- Seyd, Jane (April 14, 2011). "'Time to move on,' MLA says after avoiding criminal record". The Vancouver Sun. p. A11.
- "Special prosecutor approves impaired-driving charges against MLA Thornthwaite". The Vancouver Sun. April 29, 2010. Archived from the original on March 21, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
- Seyd, Jane (April 13, 2011). "MLA avoids criminal record after pleading guilty to minor offence". The Province. Vancouver. p. A23.
- BC Election results 2013: BC Liberals secure a majority government Global News May 15, 2013
- Statement of Votes 40th Provincial General Election Elections BC May 14, 2013
- INPUT SOUGHT ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH Providence Health Care July 2, 2014
- Vancouver's ill and addicted lost in a mental-health care maze Georgia Straight January 7, 2015
- Children and Youth committee recommends concrete actions on child and youth mental health BC Legislature January 27, 2016
- Final Report Child and Youth Mental Health in British Columbia Concrete Actions for Systemic Change BC Legislature January 2016
- Support LGBT youth in BC schools, committee tells government Daily Xtra January 28, 2016
- B.C. schools told to include sex orientation and gender ID in anti-bully plans The Canadian Press September 8, 2016
- Ryan Clayton: LGBT–specific changes to anti-bullying school policies to benefit students' futures Georgia Straight September 8th, 2016
- Appointment of B.C. minister of mental health recommended Vancouver Sun January 27, 2016
- B.C.'s new Minister of Mental Health and Addictions on tackling the opioid crisis CBC News July 24, 2017
- North Shore to get ‘one-stop shop’ for youth North Shore News February 10, 2017
- New mental health youth centre launches in Kelowna CBC News Dec 12, 2016
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH OPENS NEW YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS CENTRE IN PRINCE GEORGE My Prince George Now January 13, 2017
- North Shore peak named after search and rescue leader Tim Jones Vancouver Sun January 20, 2017
- Province to decide on Tim Jones Peak North Shore News December 27, 2015
- $100-million Highway 1 upgrades announced for North Vancouver North Shore News April 17, 2015
- $50-million traffic fix planned for Mountain Highway interchange North Shore News November 14, 2014
- New lane and bridge to tackle North Vancouver congestion CTV News January 27, 2017
- North Shore candidates target traffic for votes North Shore News April 25, 2017
- North Vancouver infrastructure projects lacking provincial funds North Shore News August 12, 2016
- Express lanes coming to the Cut North Shore News January 27, 2017
- "MLA wants law to target puppy mills". Times-Colonist. Jan 13, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
- "Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- "Smyth: Victoria moving on tough new rules for commercial dog and cat breeders". The Province. November 16, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- "New puppy mill law would give SPCA the 'teeth' to go after bad breeders". CBC News. February 18, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- "B.C. adopts national standards for kennel and cattery operations, licensing could come next". CBC News. April 24, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Richter, Brent (May 9, 2017). "UPDATED: Thornthwaite re-elected in North Vancouver-Seymour". North Shore News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Seyd, Jane. "'Help is on the way' says North Vancouver Lonsdale MLA". North Shore News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- Richter, Brent. "Two North Shore Liberal MLAs join shadow cabinet". North Shore News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
- North Vancouver residents irked by ride hailing delay North Shore News August 3, 2018
- North Shore leaders react to new ride-hailing legislation timeline North Shore News November 20, 2018
- LOCAL MLA’S IRKED OVER NDP GOVERNMENT GOING BACK ON RIDE-SHARING The Global Canadian December 15, 2017
- Letters: Long-term approach needed to resolve Elk Valley water-quality issues July 16, 2018
- North Shore's number one economic issue: transportation North Shore News November 30, 2017
- North Vancouver MLA calls for North Shore SkyTrain North Shore News October 17, 2017
- North Vancouver MLA envisions SkyTrain extension to North Shore Daily Hive Oct 22, 2017
- TransLink seeks input on Dundarave to Phibbs express bus service North Shore News May 9, 2018
- North Vancouver MLA proposes SkyTrain route running from Dundarave to downtown Vancouver Georgia Straight October 20th, 2017
- Is there hope for a North Shore transportation solution anytime soon? CBC News Dec 03, 2017
- Stephan Nieweler, Department of Geography SFU Department of Geography
- North Shore needs rapid transit now: SFU expert North Shore News October 4, 2018
- North Vancouver MLAs lobby for more SeaBus hours North Shore News January 6, 2018
- TransLink fare change could mean cheaper SeaBus rides North Shore News November 21, 201
- Multiple B-Line buses could help North Shore traffic nightmare North Shore News June 5, 2018
- A new B-Line should run from Joyce-Collingwood Station to the North Shore Daily Hive March 1, 2018
- It's time for B.C. to help addicts get off drugs The Province September 5, 2018
- Province must fund more treatment beds to help people end their addictions The Province February 4, 2018
- NDP dragging its feet in opioid crisis response: Liberals Glacier Media October 2, 2018
- Mother pushes for change after teenage daughter's overdose death CBC News Feb 17, 2018
- In Steffanie’s wake Squamish Chief March 16, 2018
- Grieving mother pleads with government to support Safe Care Act Global News March 2, 2018
- Young drug users should be involuntarily admitted into care, B.C. mom says The Globe and Mail November 25, 2018
- Mental health minister to look into Oak Bay teen's death Times Colonist April 23, 2018
- "2017 Provincial General Election Preliminary Voting Results". Elections BC. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
- "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
External links
- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia - Jane Thornthwaite
- Member of the Legislative Assembly - Jane Thornthwaite (North Vancouver-Seymour)