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Mike de Jong

In this Dutch name, the surname is de Jong, not Jong.

Michael de Jong KC (born 1963 or 1964) is a politician in the Canadian province of British Columbia.[2] He was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Matsqui from 1994 to 2001, Abbotsford-Mount Lehman from 2001 to 2009, and Abbotsford West from 2009 until 2024. A caucus member of BC United (formerly known as the British Columbia Liberal Party), he served in several cabinet posts under premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, and ran for party leadership in 2011 and 2018.

Early life

De Jong was born to Dutch parents who immigrated to Canada after Canadian soldiers liberated the Netherlands in World War II. At age eight, he and his family moved to a farm in the District of Matsqui in British Columbia. He attended Abbotsford's last single-room elementary school and worked as farm labourer as an early teen.[1]

He graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then attended the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, earning his law degree in 1988.[3][4][5] He subsequently returned to Matsqui to set up a law practice, and was elected as trustee for School District 34 Abbotsford at age 26, becoming one of Canada's youngest school board members.[1][4]

Political career

Provincial politics

Early career and opposition

In 1994, de Jong was recruited by Gordon Campbell of the British Columbia Liberal Party to compete against new Social Credit Party (Socred) leader Grace McCarthy in a by-election in Matsqui. The Socreds had represented the riding for 42 years until de Jong defeated McCarthy by a margin of 42 votes.[1] McCarthy, who had been attempting to rebuild the Socreds, resigned as party leader shortly after her by-election loss, and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.

De Jong was a member of the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001, serving as opposition critic for aboriginal affairs at one point.[6] He was regarded as very vocal on the opposition benches; he was ejected from the legislative assembly for calling then-Attorney General Colin Gabelmann a "liar" and was later sued for libel by federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal.[1]

Campbell ministry

In the 2001 election, de Jong ran in the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman. After his party was victorious in the election, de Jong was appointed Minister of Forests in the new Campbell ministry.[7][8] In 2004, de Jong removed 70,000 hectares of land from Tree Farm Licence 44 with no compensation from the owner and against the recommendations of ministry staff; this effectively privatized what had been Crown Land without compensation to the province. The changes made allowed the wood to be exported as raw logs rather than lumber, and also allowed for eventual development of the land. The land in question was under dispute by the Hupacasath First Nation and also the Tseshaht First Nation; no consultation took place and the bands had since filed legal action.[9][10] He has also been linked to other such privatizations of Crown forest land.[11] After the 2005 election, de Jong became Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services.[8][12] The following year, in a small cabinet shuffle, he became Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.[8][13]

In the 2009 election, de Jong ran in the newly created riding of Abbotsford West. Following the election, in which the BC Liberals remained in office, de Jong was named Attorney General.[8][14] On two occasions in 2010, de Jong stepped in as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General while Kash Heed was under investigation for campaign violations.[8][15] That same year, de Jong faced controversy when he approved the payment of $6 million in legal fees for Liberal Party insiders David Basi and Robert Virk, who pleaded guilty to charges of breach of trust and accepting benefits in connection with the sale of BC Rail in 2003. De Jong defended his actions saying the government's Legal Services Branch had recommended they not try to collect the funds since the aides did not have any money.[16]

On December 1, 2010, de Jong announced that he would seek the leadership of the BC Liberal Party to replace the outgoing Gordon Campbell, and resigned his cabinet post.[17] During his campaign, he advocated for the provincial voting age to be lowered to 16.[18] He placed fourth in the 2011 leadership election, which was won by Christy Clark.[19][20]

Clark ministry

In Clark's initial cabinet, de Jong was named Minister of Health.[5][21][22][23] He was appointed Minister of Finance on September 5, 2012,[24] and in addition briefly served as Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism between March and June 2013.[21] He retained the finance portfolio following his re-election in 2013. From 2013 to 2017, de Jong tabled five consecutive balanced budgets.[25]

De Jong was re-elected in 2017 and remained as Minister of Finance.[26] He finished his term as minister that July,[21] following the Liberal minority government's defeat in a confidence vote on June 29.[27]

Return to opposition

With Christy Clark resigning as leader, de Jong announced on September 26, 2017 his intention to run in the 2018 BC Liberal leadership election.[28] His campaign placed an emphasis on education, including proposals to extend full-day kindergarten to four-year-olds, and to provide $500 each year to a child's registered education savings plan.[29] On January 18, 2018, de Jong and rival candidate Andrew Wilkinson announced they had struck a deal to support each other as their second-ballot choices.[30] De Jong placed fifth in a field of six, but his alliance with Wilkinson was critical to the latter's victory.[31]

He was re-elected in 2020,[32] and was named shadow minister for Attorney General.[4] He announced in February 2024 that he would not seek another term as MLA in that year's provincial election, and stated that he was considering running for the Conservative Party of Canada in the next federal election.[33] His provincial seat was held by the Conservatives by Korky Neufeld.[34]

Federal politics

On April 17, 2024, de Jong announced he was seeking the Conservative nomination for Abbotsford—South Langley.[35] On March 4, 2025, de Jong revealed on social media that despite the local Electoral District Candidate Selection Committee unanimously endorsing his candidacy, the party denied his application to seek the nomination by telling him that he was "not qualified".[36][37][38] De Jong later announced that he was running as an independent by stating his belief that candidates should not be selected by a party operative.[38] The Globe and Mail later reported that the Conservative candidate, 25 year-old blueberry farmer Sukhman Singh Gill, was selected by Jenni Byrne.[39] On April 15, 2025, Ed Fast, the outgoing Conservative MP for Abbotsford, the predecessor district of Abbotsford—South Langley, endorsed de Jong.[40] Gill was elected in the election.[41]

Electoral record

Federal elections

2025 Canadian federal election: Abbotsford—South Langley
** Preliminary results — Not yet official **
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Conservative Sukhman Gill 24,126 43.10 –2.49
Liberal Kevin Gillies 18,963 33.88 +7.83
Independent Michael de Jong 9,747 17.41 N/A
New Democratic Dharmasena Yakandawela 2,104 3.76 –14.46
Green Melissa Snazell 577 1.03 –2.11
People's Aeriol Alderking 459 0.82 –6.18
Total valid votes/expense limit
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 55,976 66.81
Eligible voters 83,787
Conservative notional hold Swing –5.16
Source: Elections Canada[42][43]

Provincial elections

2020 British Columbia general election: Abbotsford West
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Mike de Jong 8,880 45.51 −9.72 $46,271.14
New Democratic Preet Rai 7,119 36.49 +5.72 $5,639.35
Conservative Michael Henshall 1,766 9.05 – $7,727.07
Green Kevin Eastwood 1,671 8.56 −2.28 $330.52
Vision Sukhi Gill 75 0.38 – $2,685.00
Total valid votes 19,511 100.00 –
Total rejected ballots    
Turnout    
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[44]
2017 British Columbia general election: Abbotsford West
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Mike de Jong 11,618 55.23 +4.85 $71,415
New Democratic Preet Rai 6,474 30.77 +1.36 $23,646
Green Kevin Allan Eastwood 2,280 10.84 +6.18 $306
Christian Heritage Lynn Simcox 516 2.45 – $1,221
Libertarian Dave Sharkey 149 0.71 –
Total valid votes 21,037 100.00
Total rejected ballots 148 0.70
Turnout 21,185 57.30
Source: Elections BC[45]
2013 British Columbia general election: Abbotsford West
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Mike de Jong 9,473 50.38
New Democratic Sukhi Dhami 5,430 29.41
Conservative Paul Brian Redekopp 1,791 9.53
Independent Moe Gill 1,082 5.75
Green Stephen Carl OShea 877 4.66
Excalibur Kerry-Lynn Osbourne 49 0.26
Total valid votes 18.702 100.00
Total rejected ballots 245 1.29
Turnout 18,947 59.38
Registered voters 31,910
Source: Elections BC[46]

Notes

  1. ^ Known as the British Columbia Liberal Party until April 2023.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Shaw, Rob (May 23, 2015). "Finance minister learned frugality on Fraser Valley farm". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  2. ^ 'Open Mike' promises a 'fresh start'; MLA Mike de Jong starts campaign by distancing himself from Premier Campbell by Ward, Doug. The Vancouver Sun 02 Dec 2010: A.2.
  3. ^ "De Jong, Hon. Michael, B.A., LL.B. (Abbotsford-Mount Lehman) Minister Of Forests". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "MLA: Michael de Jong, K.C." Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Michael de Jong named BC Minister of Health". University of Alberta Faculty of Law. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ^ "Liberals deflect NDP attack on treaty referendum plan". CBC News. March 21, 2001. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  7. ^ McInnes, Craig (June 5, 2001). "27-member cabinet biggest in B.C. history". Vancouver Sun. pp. A1, A5.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Valley, Alberni (May 9, 2008). "Opposition pounces on TFL 44 revelations". Canada.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  10. ^ "Tseshaht land claim complicates TFL removal - Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC)". Archived from the original on August 7, 2011.
  11. ^ Damonse, Anthony (January 12, 2011). "Kitimat Sentinel - 'Mistake' not adjusting min. wage". Bclocalnews.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  12. ^ "Campbell presents new B.C. cabinet". The Globe and Mail. June 16, 2005. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  13. ^ Hunter, Justine (June 23, 2008). "B.C. cabinet shuffle puts familiar face in Finance". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "B.C. premier names new 24-member cabinet". CBC News. June 10, 2009. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "B.C. solicitor general Heed resigns again". CBC News. May 5, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  16. ^ "BC Rail defendants' $6M tab footed by taxpayers". CBC News. October 19, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  17. ^ "Mike de Jong joins BC Liberal leadership race". CTV News. December 1, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  18. ^ "Lower B.C. voting age to 16: de Jong". CBC News. December 15, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  19. ^ Shaw, Rob (February 27, 2011). "Christy Clark to become new B.C. premier". Calgary Herald. Vancouver, British Columbia. Postmedia News. p. A5. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Christy Clark voted B.C. Liberal leader". CBC News. February 26, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  21. ^ a b c "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  22. ^ "B.C. Premier Christy Clark sworn in, unveils cabinet". CTV News. March 14, 2011. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  23. ^ Fayerman, Pamela (December 26, 2011). "BC health minister Mike de Jong: his first major interview". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  24. ^ Hunter, Justine (September 5, 2011). "Clark shuffles cabinet to 'set the foundation' ahead of 2013 election". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012.
  25. ^ "Former B.C. finance minister Mike de Jong, Michael Lee announce Liberal run". NanaimoNewsNOW. The Canadian Press. June 26, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  26. ^ "B.C. Premier Christy Clark and cabinet sworn in". CBC News. June 12, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  27. ^ "B.C. Liberal government loses confidence vote 44-42, sparking either NDP government or election". CBC News. June 29, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  28. ^ "Mike de Jong, Michael Lee join the BC Liberal leadership race". News 1130. September 26, 2017.
  29. ^ McElroy, Justin (January 30, 2018). "Mike de Jong: the candidate of experience, for better or worse". CBC News. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  30. ^ Shaw, Rob (January 20, 2018). "Wilkinson and de Jong strike deal to support each other in Liberal leadership race". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  31. ^ Shaw, Rob (February 5, 2018). "How Andrew Wilkinson won the B.C. Liberal leadership race". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  32. ^ Zussman, Richard; Little, Simon (September 26, 2020). "B.C. election 2020: Abbotsford West results". Global News. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  33. ^ Little, Simon; Zussman, Richard (February 14, 2024). "BC United veteran Mike de Jong retiring from B.C. politics, mulling federal run". Global News. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  34. ^ "BC election 2024 results: Abbotsford West | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  35. ^ "Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run". CTV News. The Canadian Press. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  36. ^ "Mike de Jong ousted from Abbotsford-South Langley Tory nomination race". Terrace Standard. March 4, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  37. ^ "Tories reject former B.C. cabinet minister Mike de Jong as federal election candidate". CBC News. March 4, 2025.
  38. ^ a b "Former B.C. cabinet minister Mike de Jong set to run in federal election as an independent". The Globe and Mail. March 27, 2025. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  39. ^ "Pressure mounts on Poilievre to refocus Conservative campaign on Donald Trump". The Globe and Mail. March 28, 2025. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
  40. ^ "Conservative MP Ed Fast endorses Independent candidate Mike de Jong". Winnipeg Free Press. The Canadian Press. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  41. ^ "Local farmer wins Tory nomination for Abbotsford-South Langley". The Abbotsford News. March 10, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  42. ^ "Voter information service". Elections Canada. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  43. ^ "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". Elections Canada. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  44. ^ "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  45. ^ "Statement of Votes – 41st Provincial General Election – May 9, 2017" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  46. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.