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Jane Thornthwaite

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Jane Thornthwaite
MLA
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for North Vancouver-Seymour
In office
May 12, 2009 – September 21, 2020
Preceded byDaniel Jarvis
Succeeded bySusie Chant
Personal details
Born1958 or 1959 (age 65–66)[1]
Political partyBC Liberal
Residence(s)North Vancouver, British Columbia
OccupationPolitician, dietitian, activist

Jane Ann Thornthwaite is a Canadian politician, who represented the North Vancouver-Seymour electoral district Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2009 to 2020. She is a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party and was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the 2009 election and re-elected in the 2013 and 2017 elections. Her party formed a majority government during the 39th and 40th Parliaments during which she was appointed to be Parliamentary Secretary for Student Support and Parent Engagement (2012–17). Her party briefly formed a minority government in the 41st Parliament during which she was appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying (2017) but became the critic for issues relating to Mental Health and Addictions when she became part of the official opposition.

She sponsored three private member's bills: Bill M-214 in 2012 that would have established standards of care for pet breeders, which while it was not adopted, a version was included in a 2017 amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act; the Safe Care Act (2018) that would have given 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; and the Welfare Payment System Reflection Act that would have required the Minister responsible to prepare a report on alternative payment processing methods for individuals receiving assistance.

Prior to her election to the legislature, Thornthwaite worked as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for her own consulting business. She was an advocate for labelling foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. She is a long-time resident of North Vancouver and graduated from Windsor Hillside Secondary School and the University of British Columbia. She was arrested for drunk driving in February 2010 and charged with driving over the legal limit, during the 2010 Winter Olympics. She pled "not guilty" and reached a plea bargain, pleading guilty to "driving without due care and attention".

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.[2] According to Thornthwaite, working in that field fostered a sense of advocacy for organic foods[3] and a desire for labelling of food products containing genetically modified ingredients.[4] During that time she raised three children of her own.

Local politics

In 2005, Thornthwaite stood as an independent[5] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] In the November 2008 election, Thornthwaite was the only board member seeking re-election.[8] Entering her second term, Thornthwaite was elected chairperson of the board.

Provincial politics

39th Parliament (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.[9][10][11] The electoral district was considered one of the safest BC Liberal ridings in the province[11] and the 50-year-old Thornthwaite easily won, with her BC Liberal Party winning a majority government during the 39th Parliament of British Columbia

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.[12][13] 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."[14] At the trial, Thornthwaite argued that, while she did consume alcohol, she was not intoxicated.[13] 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.[13][15]

40th Parliament (2013–2017)

Thornthwaite was re-elected to a second term on May 14, 2013.[16][17] In the ensuing 40th Parliament of British Columbia she was appointed to the Select Standing Committee for Children and Youth, which she chaired,[18] and the Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying. The Committee released an interim report on youth mental health in B.C.,[19] followed by a more comprehensive report with recommendations titled, "Concrete Actions for Systemic Change", in 2016.[20][21] 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,[22][23][24] appointing a Minister for Mental Health,[25][26] 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.[27][28][29] Thornthwaite also assisted in having a North Shore peak named after longtime North Shore Rescue Team Leader, Tim Jones (Search and Rescue).[30][31]

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.[32] The project was initially to cost $140-million,[33] but increased to $198-million after feedback and consultation with the public determined more infrastructure would result in a better project.[34][35][36][37]

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".[38][39] 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.[40][41] The bill passed that April.[42]

41st Parliament (2017–2020)

Jane Thornthwaite sought re-election in the 2017 British Columbia general election. She was challenged by NDP candidate Michael Charrois, Green candidate Joshua Johnson, and Libertarian Clayton Welwood, but Thornthwaite sustained the North Vancouver-Seymour riding and her BC Liberal formed a minority government in the 41st Parliament of British Columbia.[43] Premier Christy Clark appointed Thornthwaite to be the 'Parliamentary Secretary for Child Mental Health and Anti-Bullying to the Minister of Children and Family Development'[44] After the BC Liberals lost control of the parliament and the BC NDP formed a minority government, Thornthwaite became the Official Opposition Critic for Mental Health and Addictions.[45][46] During the ensuing BC Liberal Party leadership election, she endorsed Todd Stone.[47] After Andrew Wilkinson became party leader, he kept Thornthwaite in her role as Critic for Mental Health and Addictions but shifted the position to Critic for Mental Health, Addictions, & Community Wellness in September 2020.[48] In this role, in 2018 and 2019, she introduced the private members' bill Safe Care Act [Bill M-202 (2018), Bill M-207 (2019)] which would have given 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.[49][50][51][52][53] She also advocated for more treatment and recovery services to be made available in BC.[54][55][56] In 2019 she introduced a second private members' bill, the Welfare Payment System Reflection Act (Bill M-208), which would have required the Minister responsible to prepare a report on alternative payment processing methods for individuals receiving assistance.

In addition, Thornthwaite acted as a vocal proponent for bringing ridesharing services, like Uber and Lyft, to the Metro Vancouver region. For some time, Vancouver remained the largest region in North America without ridesharing services.[57][58][59][60] In 2017, Thornthwaite advocated for SkyTrain to be extended to the North Shore.[61][62][63][64] 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.[65][66] 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.[67][68] Along with MLA Bowinn Ma, Thornthwaite has also lobbied TransLink for more SeaBus hours,[69] a more equitable fare structure,[70] and more bus service for the North Shore.[71][72]

Thornthwaite again sought re-election in the 2020 British Columbia general election but lost to Susie Chant of the British Columbia New Democratic Party who went on to form a majority government during the 42nd Parliament of British Columbia.[73]

Electoral history

2020 British Columbia general election: North Vancouver-Seymour
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
New Democratic Susie Chant 12,891 46.84 +12.37 $26,969.51
Liberal Jane Thornthwaite 9,827 35.70 –10.66 $41,813.24
Green Harrison Johnston 4,514 16.40 –1.90 $5,098.28
Libertarian Clayton Welwood 291 1.06 +0.19 $46.80
Total valid votes 27,523 99.32 –
Total rejected ballots 189 0.68 +0.21
Turnout 27,712 65.49 –4.85
Registered voters 42,316
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +11.52
Source: Elections BC[74][75]
2017 British Columbia general election: North Vancouver-Seymour
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Jane Thornthwaite 13,194 46.36 −4.56 $59,904
New Democratic Michael Rene Charrois 9,808 34.47 +1.55 $15,730
Green Joshua Johnson 5,208 18.30 +10.97 $8,411
Libertarian Clayton Welwood 247 0.87 – $115
Total valid votes 28,457 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots 134 0.47 +0.13
Turnout 28,591 70.33 +3.34
Registered voters 40,650
Source: Elections BC[76][77]
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[78]
B.C. General Election 2009: North Vancouver-Seymour
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

  1. ^ Thornthwaite pleads to lesser charge than drunk driving Seyd, Jane. North Shore News [North Vancouver, B.C] 13 Apr 2011: 1.
  2. ^ "All-candidates meetings". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. November 6, 2005. p. 14.
  3. ^ "New documentary reveals the perils of processed foods". WestEnder. Vancouver. May 26, 2005. p. 30.
  4. ^ Gillett, Leslie (February 10, 1997). "What's in that spud? Genetically altered food concerns nutritionist". The Province. Vancouver. p. B3.
  5. ^ a b Seyd, Jane (November 23, 2005). "NV school board gets three new trustees". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 5.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Weldon, James (May 20, 2007). "Two NV trustees object to Pro-Merita program lease". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 1.
  8. ^ Neufeld, Scott (October 31, 2008). "In Profile: District of North Vancouver school board candidates". The North Shore Outlook. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 8.
  9. ^ "Retired Liberal MLA Dan Jarvis endorses Thornthwaite as his successor". The North Shore Outlook. North Vancouver, British Columbia. March 26, 2009. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Thornthwaite to run as Liberal candidate in North Vancouver-Seymour". The North Shore Outlook. North Vancouver, British Columbia. April 7, 2009. p. 1.
  11. ^ a b Seyd, Jane (April 8, 2009). "Liberals pick Thornthwaite for Seymour". North Shore News. North Vancouver, British Columbia. p. 1.
  12. ^ Hunter, Justine (February 24, 2010). "B.C. MLA facing impaired driving charges". The Globe and Mail. p. S7.
  13. ^ a b c Seyd, Jane (April 14, 2011). "'Time to move on,' MLA says after avoiding criminal record". The Vancouver Sun. p. A11.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Seyd, Jane (April 13, 2011). "MLA avoids criminal record after pleading guilty to minor offence". The Province. Vancouver. p. A23.
  16. ^ BC Election results 2013: BC Liberals secure a majority government Global News May 15, 2013
  17. ^ Statement of Votes 40th Provincial General Election Elections BC May 14, 2013
  18. ^ INPUT SOUGHT ON YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH Providence Health Care July 2, 2014
  19. ^ Vancouver's ill and addicted lost in a mental-health care maze Georgia Straight January 7, 2015
  20. ^ Children and Youth committee recommends concrete actions on child and youth mental health BC Legislature January 27, 2016
  21. ^ Final Report Child and Youth Mental Health in British Columbia Concrete Actions for Systemic Change BC Legislature January 2016
  22. ^ Support LGBT youth in BC schools, committee tells government Daily Xtra January 28, 2016
  23. ^ B.C. schools told to include sex orientation and gender ID in anti-bully plans The Canadian Press September 8, 2016
  24. ^ Ryan Clayton: LGBT–specific changes to anti-bullying school policies to benefit students' futures Georgia Straight September 8th, 2016
  25. ^ Appointment of B.C. minister of mental health recommended Vancouver Sun January 27, 2016
  26. ^ B.C.'s new Minister of Mental Health and Addictions on tackling the opioid crisis CBC News July 24, 2017
  27. ^ North Shore to get ‘one-stop shop’ for youth North Shore News February 10, 2017
  28. ^ New mental health youth centre launches in Kelowna CBC News Dec 12, 2016
  29. ^ MINISTRY OF HEALTH OPENS NEW YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS CENTRE IN PRINCE GEORGE My Prince George Now January 13, 2017
  30. ^ North Shore peak named after search and rescue leader Tim Jones Vancouver Sun January 20, 2017
  31. ^ Province to decide on Tim Jones Peak North Shore News December 27, 2015
  32. ^ $100-million Highway 1 upgrades announced for North Vancouver North Shore News April 17, 2015
  33. ^ $50-million traffic fix planned for Mountain Highway interchange North Shore News November 14, 2014
  34. ^ New lane and bridge to tackle North Vancouver congestion CTV News January 27, 2017
  35. ^ North Shore candidates target traffic for votes North Shore News April 25, 2017
  36. ^ North Vancouver infrastructure projects lacking provincial funds North Shore News August 12, 2016
  37. ^ Express lanes coming to the Cut North Shore News January 27, 2017
  38. ^ "MLA wants law to target puppy mills". Times-Colonist. Jan 13, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  39. ^ "Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  40. ^ "Smyth: Victoria moving on tough new rules for commercial dog and cat breeders". The Province. November 16, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  41. ^ "New puppy mill law would give SPCA the 'teeth' to go after bad breeders". CBC News. February 18, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  42. ^ "B.C. adopts national standards for kennel and cattery operations, licensing could come next". CBC News. April 24, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  43. ^ Richter, Brent (May 9, 2017). "UPDATED: Thornthwaite re-elected in North Vancouver-Seymour". North Shore News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  44. ^ "Order-in-Council 195/2017". British Columbia. June 12, 2017. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  45. ^ Seyd, Jane. "'Help is on the way' says North Vancouver Lonsdale MLA". North Shore News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  46. ^ Richter, Brent. "Two North Shore Liberal MLAs join shadow cabinet". North Shore News. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  47. ^ "Todd Stone enters Liberal leadership race, says he's a bridge between generations". Vancouver Sun. October 10, 2017.
  48. ^ "B.C. Liberals shuffle critic roles to focus on pandemic recovery". Voice Online. September 10, 2020.
  49. ^ Mother pushes for change after teenage daughter's overdose death CBC News Feb 17, 2018
  50. ^ In Steffanie's wake Squamish Chief March 16, 2018
  51. ^ Grieving mother pleads with government to support Safe Care Act Global News March 2, 2018
  52. ^ Young drug users should be involuntarily admitted into care, B.C. mom says The Globe and Mail November 25, 2018
  53. ^ Mental health minister to look into Oak Bay teen's death Times Colonist April 23, 2018
  54. ^ It's time for B.C. to help addicts get off drugs The Province September 5, 2018
  55. ^ Province must fund more treatment beds to help people end their addictions The Province February 4, 2018
  56. ^ NDP dragging its feet in opioid crisis response: Liberals Glacier Media October 2, 2018
  57. ^ North Vancouver residents irked by ride hailing delay North Shore News August 3, 2018
  58. ^ North Shore leaders react to new ride-hailing legislation timeline North Shore News November 20, 2018
  59. ^ LOCAL MLA’S IRKED OVER NDP GOVERNMENT GOING BACK ON RIDE-SHARING The Global Canadian December 15, 2017
  60. ^ Letters: Long-term approach needed to resolve Elk Valley water-quality issues July 16, 2018
  61. ^ North Shore's number one economic issue: transportation North Shore News November 30, 2017
  62. ^ North Vancouver MLA calls for North Shore SkyTrain North Shore News October 17, 2017
  63. ^ North Vancouver MLA envisions SkyTrain extension to North Shore Daily Hive Oct 22, 2017
  64. ^ TransLink seeks input on Dundarave to Phibbs express bus service North Shore News May 9, 2018
  65. ^ North Vancouver MLA proposes SkyTrain route running from Dundarave to downtown Vancouver Georgia Straight October 20th, 2017
  66. ^ Is there hope for a North Shore transportation solution anytime soon? CBC News Dec 03, 2017
  67. ^ Stephan Nieweler, Department of Geography SFU Department of Geography
  68. ^ North Shore needs rapid transit now: SFU expert North Shore News October 4, 2018
  69. ^ North Vancouver MLAs lobby for more SeaBus hours North Shore News January 6, 2018
  70. ^ TransLink fare change could mean cheaper SeaBus rides North Shore News November 21, 201
  71. ^ Multiple B-Line buses could help North Shore traffic nightmare North Shore News June 5, 2018
  72. ^ A new B-Line should run from Joyce-Collingwood Station to the North Shore Daily Hive March 1, 2018
  73. ^ Thornthwaite, Jane (November 14, 2020). "Jane Thornthwaite: Why my apology isn't the only one British Columbians need to hear". Vancouver Sun.
  74. ^ "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  75. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  76. ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  77. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  78. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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