Shane Simpson

For the jazz guitarist, see Shane Simpson (musician). For the lawyer, see Shane Simpson (lawyer).

Shane Lee Simpson (born 1954 or 1955) is a Canadian politician, who served as MLA for Vancouver-Hastings in the Canadian province of British Columbia from 2005 to 2020. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2005 election.^[2]

Shane Simpson
Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction of British Columbia
In office July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020
Premier	John Horgan
Preceded by	Michelle Stilwell
Succeeded by	Nicholas Simons
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Hastings
In office May 17, 2005 – October 24, 2020
Preceded by	Joy MacPhail
Succeeded by	Niki Sharma
Personal details
Born	1954 or 1955 (age 70–71)[1] Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party	New Democrat
Residence(s)	Vancouver, British Columbia

He is a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party and served as the official opposition critic for the environment from 2005 to 2009. He served as critic for Housing, ICBC, the BC Lottery Corporation and the BC Liquor Distribution Branch from 2009 until 2012. In addition Simpson was the NDP Caucus Chair.

Early life and career

Born and raised in East Vancouver, Shane Simpson has been active in his community for over 30 years. He led the fight to stop Lafarge from building a concrete batch plant beside New Brighton Park, a popular and historically significant park facing Burrard Inlet.^{[citation needed]}

In his professional career, Simpson has worked as the Director of Policy and Communications for Smart Growth BC, Chair of the Vancouver City Planning Commission, Instructor in the Community Economic Development program at Simon Fraser University, Executive Director of the Worker Ownership Resource Center, Legislative Coordinator for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, coordinator and fundraiser for the Ray Cam Cooperative Center, executive assistant to former Vancouver East MP Margaret Mitchell, and as a self-employed consultant on business and economic development for labour, co-operative and non-profit groups.^{[citation needed]}

Simpson was the recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his contribution to community in 2002. In 1992, he was awarded the Governor General's 125th Anniversary Commemorative Medal for Community Service.^{[citation needed]}

He lives in East Vancouver with his wife and daughter.

Politics

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2005 British Columbia general election. He was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017.

On September 4, 2020, Simpson announced that he wouldn't run for re-election in the next general election.^[3]

Election results

v t e 2017 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Hastings
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Shane Simpson	14,382	59.98	+0.41	$38,308
	Liberal	Jane Spitz	5,152	21.49	-6.15	$24,876
	Green	David H.T. Wong	4,238	17.67	+6.56	$3,621
	Communist	Kimball Mark Cariou	206	0.86	–	$0
Total valid votes			23,978	100.00	–
Total rejected ballots			188	0.78	-0.17
Turnout			24,166	59.59	+6.38
Registered voters			40,555
Source: Elections BC[4][5]

v t e 2013 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Hastings
Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	New Democratic	Shane Simpson	12,782	59.51
	Liberal	Fatima Siddiqui	5,936	27.64
	Green	Brennan Wauters	2,386	11.11
	Social Credit	Carrol B. Woolsey	374	1.74
Total valid votes			21,478	100.00
Total rejected ballots			206	0.95
Turnout			21684	53.21
Source: Elections BC[6]

v t e 2009 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Hastings
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Shane Simpson	10,857	55.45	$66,781
	Liberal	Haida Lane	6,323	32.35	$42,119
	Green	Ryan Daniel Conroy	2,012	10.29	$4,137
	Work Less	Chris Telford	198	1.01	$250
	Sex	Dietrich Pajonk	99	0.51	$268
	People's Front	Donna Petersen	76	0.38	$250
Total valid votes			19,565	100
Total rejected ballots			163	0.83
Turnout			19,728	50.58
Eligible voters			39,006