Dawn Black

Dawn Black (née Whitty; born April 1, 1943) is a Canadian politician in British Columbia, Canada. She represented the riding of New Westminster in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2009 to 2013. During that time, she served as interim leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) and Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia from January to April 2011.

Dawn Black
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In office
January 19, 2011 – April 17, 2011
Preceded byCarole James
Succeeded byAdrian Dix
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for New Westminster
In office
May 12, 2009 – May 13, 2013
Preceded byChuck Puchmayr
Succeeded byJudy Darcy
Member of Parliament
for New Westminster—Coquitlam
In office
April 3, 2006 – April 13, 2009
Preceded byPaul Forseth
Succeeded byFin Donnelly
Member of Parliament
for New Westminster—Burnaby
In office
November 21, 1988 – October 24, 1993
Preceded byRiding established
Succeeded byPaul Forseth
Interim Leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party
In office
January 20, 2011 – April 17, 2011
Preceded byCarole James
Succeeded byAdrian Dix
Personal details
Born
Dawn Whitty

(1943-04-01) April 1, 1943
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Political partyNew Democratic
Spouse
Peter James Black
​
(m. 1965)​
Residence(s)New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
ProfessionExecutive assistant

Prior to that, she served as member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of Canada on two occasions as part of the federal NDP caucus, representing the riding of New Westminster—Burnaby from 1988 to 1993, and the riding of New Westminster—Coquitlam from 2006 to 2009.

Background

Born in Vancouver to John and Virginia Whitty, she married Peter Black in 1965, with whom she has three sons.[1] She became involved in politics from a young age, working as an assistant to New Democratic Party MP Pauline Jewett of New Westminster—Coquitlam,[2] as well as BC NDP member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Maillardville-Coquitlam John Cashore.[3][4]

Member of Parliament

With Jewett declining to run in the 1988 federal election, Black received the NDP nomination to contest the newly established riding of New Westminster—Burnaby, and was elected the riding's MP.[2][5] In the 34th Parliament she served as the NDP's critic for status of women from 1989 to 1993, critic for child care from 1990 to 1993, and the party's deputy caucus chair from 1990 to 1991.[5]

As an MP, one of her most notable achievements was proposing a private member's bill in 1991 that made December 6, the anniversary of the 1989 Montreal Massacre, a permanent day of remembrance and action on violence against women.[2][6] She also led the opposition to the Tories' anti-abortion measure and proposed an anti-stalking measure, which was later adopted by Parliament.

In the 1993 election, she lost her seat to Reform Party candidate Paul Forseth. She contested the newly established riding of New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby in the 1997 election, but lost to Forseth again. In the 2006 election she contested the re-established riding of New Westminster—Coquitlam, this time defeating Forseth (now representing the Conservative Party).[7] She was named the NDP's defence critic.[5]

On April 5, 2006, during the first question period of the 39th Parliament Black asked Gordon O'Connor, then Minister of National Defence, to renegotiate the prisoner transfer agreement with the Afghan government. O'Connor refused saying "Mr. Speaker, we have no intention of redrafting the agreement. The Red Cross and the Red Crescent are charged with ensuring that prisoners are not abused. There is nothing in the agreement that prevents Canada from determining the fate of prisoners so there is no need to make any change in the agreement."[8] Black was prominent on the issue, which eventually saw the resignation of Gordon O'Connor and the negotiation of a new transfer agreement.

In the 2008 election, she defeated Conservative candidate Yonah Martin to retain her seat,[9] and kept her post as the NDP's defence critic.[5] In March 2009 she announced her resignation as MP in order to run for the BC NDP in the upcoming BC provincial election, aiming to succeed ailing NDP MLA Chuck Puchmayr in New Westminster.[10] She stated she would remain in federal office long enough to draft a private member's bill restricting the use of civilian armoured vehicles, a significant issue in a city dealing with gang violence.[11]

Provincial politics
Dawn Black at the 2011 BC NDP leadership election

Following her departure from federal politics, she was handily elected to the BC Legislature in May 2009.[12]

Following the resignation of party leader Carole James, Black was unanimously nominated by the provincial caucus to be the interim leader of the BC NDP on January 19, 2011;[13] the NDP's provincial council ratified the decision one day later.[14] Black said after the nomination: "I've done a lot of tough things in my life - I've travelled to Afghanistan...The challenge is to prove to British Columbians that we're working together. Everybody made a commitment today to expose the broken promises of the Liberal government."[15]

Her stint as interim leader ended upon the election of Adrian Dix in April 2011;[16] she was subsequently named assistant deputy speaker by Dix.[17] In August 2011 she announced she would not run again in the next provincial election; she continued to serve as MLA until the end of her term in 2013.[18]

Black is currently a board member at the Broadbent Institute, a social democratic think tank.[19]

Archives

There is a Dawn Black fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[20] Archival reference number is R11547.

References
  1. "Black, Dawn" (PDF). Canadian Parliamentary Guide. 1990. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  2. Wherry, Aaron (April 6, 2009). "'Resignation of member'". Maclean's. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  3. Chase, Steven (May 21, 2009). "Dawn Black is on the road less travelled". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  4. "Conference Report: Leaping into Health: Women Taking Action" (PDF). Community Health Online Digital Archive & Research Resource. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  5. "Profile - Black, Dawn". Library of Parliament. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  6. Lindeman, Tracey (December 6, 2014). "Polytechnique shooting 25th anniversary commemorated in Montreal". CBC News. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  7. "NDP, Liberals in B.C. buck Conservative trend". CBC News. January 24, 2006. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  8. "House of Commons Debates, Wednesday, April 5, 2006". Hansard. April 5, 2006. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  9. "New Westminster - Coquitlam". CBC News. April 18, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  10. "NDP MP to seek provincial seat in B.C." CBC News. March 7, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  11. Justine Hunter, "Black to leave federal NDP to seek provincial seat in B.C.". The Globe and Mail, March 7, 2009. Retrieved March 7, 2009.
  12. Pablo, Carlito (May 12, 2009). "Former MP Dawn Black elected NDP MLA for New Westminster". Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  13. "MLA Dawn Black nominated as NDP interim leader". CBC News. January 19, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  14. Thompson, Stephen (January 20, 2011). "MLA Dawn Black ratified as interim B.C. NDP leader". Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  15. "Black takes interim reins of B.C. NDP". The Province. January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  16. "Adrian Dix wins B.C. NDP leadership". CBC News. April 17, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  17. MacLeod, Andrew (April 26, 2011). "Dix announces BC NDP shadow cabinet". The Tyee. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  18. "B.C. New Democrat Dawn Black retires". CBC News. August 3, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  19. "Dawn Black at Broadbent Institute". Broadbent Institute. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  20. "Dawn Black Fonds Finding Aid, Library and Archives Canada" (PDF). Retrieved May 14, 2020.
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