[LabComm] There will be no Joy in the Legislature

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

There will be no Joy in the Legislature



Today truly is the end of an era because today, after 14 years of dedicated service to the people of British Columbia, was Joy MacPhail's last day in the Legislature.

For over a decade, Joy has been a dynamic force in BC politics. She was first elected to the Legislature in 1991 as representative for Vancouver Hastings.

During her ten years in government from 1991 to 2001, Joy served in several positions as a senior minister, including Minister of Education, Finance, Health, Labour, and Social Services, as well as Deputy-Premier. 

Joy also served in a number of other senior government roles, Chairing Government Caucus, the Treasury Board, the Economic Council, the Cabinet Committee on Collective Bargaining and the Cabinet/Caucus Committee on Legislation. 

During the government years, Joy's other roll's included co-chair of the Legislature's Constitution Committee, was vice-chair of the Public Accounts Committee, and Government House Leader. 

Through her strong support for expanded childcare and affordable housing, Joy made a positive difference in the lives of many individuals and families in the province. As a strong environmentalist, Joy successfully advocated for a moratorium on the grizzly bear hunt. Joy should also be proud of the world renowned achievement of the NDP government in protecting BC's vital environment. 

Most recently, Joy has spent the last four years holding Gordon Campbell and his government's feet to the fire. Along with MLA Jenny Kwan, she was part of the two woman dynamo that made Liberal Cabinet Minister shake in their shoes, and left them speechless time and time again. 

Below are some famous quotes from one of the most charismatic politicians BC has ever seen:

"We get it. You know what? We get it. We're a small but hardy band. There are two of us, and we know what you're doing. We know what you're doing to cover up for your recklessness and your own incompetence of a mere eight months. But you know what? It is only now that the rest of the public is seeing through what you're doing and is judging you on it, judging you on who you're attacking -- the most vulnerable -- in order to transfer wealth to the richest in this province."
Second reading debate of the infamous Bill 29
Health and Social Services Delivery Improvement Act Saturday, January 26, 2002

"How have we become a lab rat in a failing right-wing science experiment? I wish I had the answer. I don't."
Speech at a B.C. Federation of Labour convention. November 2002 

"From Mike Harcourt and Glen Clark, we've all learned to stay the hell away from wooden decks."
Referring to Harcourt's near-fatal fall from the deck of his Pender Island cabin, and the political fall Clark took after police investigated breach of trust allegations about home renovations, including a deck, done for Clark by a casino proponent. November 2003 

"If the Interior is the heartlands, then the Liberals are the cholesterol."
On the Liberal government's use of the word "heartlands" to refer to B.C. regions other than the Lower Mainland. February 2003 

"This will be the pointiest picket in the fence that they've ever had to sit on."
On the public fury the B.C. Liberals will face for privatizing BC Rail. November 2003 

"Somehow the tobacco companies think everything is fine because we collect $480 million in taxes, which is the amount of money we spend on the health care cost of people dying."
MacPhail, then health minister, says the B.C. government would give up every penny it gets from tobacco taxes if that would stop the "carnage" smoking causes. July 1997 

"Most important of all, and closest to my heart, is my son Jack. After sharing me with the province, the legislature and the media ... he'll get to see more of his mother now -- which is, of course, just what every teenager wants to hear." 
Announcing she will not seek re-election. June 2003 

"We'll be doing our best. I can't actually recall facing such a challenge ... perhaps giving birth to a son would be the only challenge I can think of that comes close."
On facing 77 Liberal MLAs in the legislature after she and one other NDP MLA were elected. July 2001 

"It will put British Columbia on the map with the biggest black eye it's ever had." 
On the Liberal government's decision to scrap the B.C. Human Rights Commission. May 2002 

"The Liberals' New Era document, page 33, says: 'A Gordon Campbell government will serve you and all British Columbians with honour, respect and integrity' ... If the finance minister believes those words, he has no choice but to resign. Will he resign today?" 
On the RCMP drug and money laundering investigation that led to criminal charges  -- including fraud, accepting bribes and breach of trust -- against David Basi, former aide to former finance minister Gary Collins, and Bob Virk, who worked for transportation minister Judith Reid. March 2004 

"I always think going to the hairdresser is worth three months of psychotherapy."
On why she changes her hair style so often. June 2003

>From all of your New Democrat sisters and brothers in BC and across Canada, thanks, Joy. Question period will never be the same.

To send a message of thanks to Joy, click here.

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