Ida Chong

Ida Chong (Chinese: 張杏芳; pinyin: Zhāng Xìngfāng; born 1956 or 1957)[1] is a British Columbia politician who served as member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Oak Bay-Gordon Head from 1996 until 2013. As part of the Liberal Party caucus, she was a provincial cabinet minister from 2004 to 2013, serving in various portfolios under premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark. Chong and New Democratic Party MLA Jenny Kwan together became the first Chinese-Canadian members of the BC Legislative Assembly.

Ida Chong
CGA
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Oak Bay-Gordon Head
In office
May 28, 1996 – May 14, 2013
Preceded byElizabeth Cull
Succeeded byAndrew Weaver
Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services of British Columbia
In office
January 26, 2004 – December 15, 2004
PremierGordon Campbell
Succeeded byWendy McMahon
Minister of Advanced Education of British Columbia
In office
December 15, 2004 – June 16, 2005
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byShirley Bond
Succeeded byMurray Coell
Minister of Community Services of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byMurray Coell
Succeeded byBlair Lekstrom
Minister responsible for Seniors' and Women's Issues of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byWendy McMahon
Succeeded byposition abolished
Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development of British Columbia
In office
June 23, 2008 – January 19, 2009
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byColin Hansen
Succeeded byIda Chong (Technology and Economic Development)
Minister responsible for Asia-Pacific Initiative of British Columbia
In office
June 23, 2008 – June 10, 2009
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byColin Hansen
Succeeded byposition abolished
Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development of British Columbia
In office
January 19, 2009 – June 10, 2009
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byKevin Krueger (Small Business), Ida Chong (Technology, Economic Development)
Succeeded byIain Black
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport of British Columbia
In office
June 10, 2009 – October 25, 2010
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byMary Polak
Succeeded byposition abolished
Minister of Science and Universities of British Columbia
In office
October 25, 2010 – March 14, 2011
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byMoira Stilwell (Advanced Education and Labour Market Development)
Succeeded byNaomi Yamamoto (Advanced Education)
Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development of British Columbia
In office
November 22, 2010 – March 14, 2011
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byMoira Stilwell
Succeeded byposition abolished
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development of British Columbia
In office
March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
PremierChristy Clark
Preceded byStephanie Cadieux
Succeeded byBill Bennett
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation of British Columbia
In office
September 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
PremierChristy Clark
Preceded byMary Polak
Succeeded byJohn Rustad
Personal details
Born1956 or 1957 (age 66–67)
Victoria, British Columbia
Political partyBC Liberals
ProfessionCertified General Accountant
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese張杏芳
Simplified Chinese张杏芳

Prior to her election as MLA, she served as municipal councillor for the District of Saanich from 1993 to 1996. In 2014 she finished third in the mayoral election of Victoria, British Columbia.

Background

Chong was born in Victoria as one of eight children to father Peter and mother Yokee Yee.[2][3] The family resided near the city's Chinatown before moving to Saanich.[3] Chong became a Certified General Accountant in 1981, and launched her own accounting firm with business partner Karen Kesteloo in 1985.[4] She was named fellow of the Certified General Accountants of BC in 2006, and was awarded a CGA-BC lifetime membership in 2014.[2]

She was elected municipal councillor for Saanich in 1993, serving until 1996.[2][5] Between 1995 and 1996 she represented Saanich at the Capital Regional District board of directors.[6]

Provincial politics

Chong ran as the BC Liberal candidate for Oak Bay-Gordon Head in the 1996 provincial election, defeating incumbent New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Elizabeth Cull to become the riding's MLA. Together with NDP MLA Jenny Kwan, Chong was one of the first two Chinese-Canadian members of the BC Legislative Assembly.[5] She served as opposition critic for Small Business and deputy critic for Finance in her first term.[7] Chong was re-elected in 2001, 2005 and 2009, before losing to the Green Party's Andrew Weaver in 2013.

Following the Liberals' landslide victory in the 2001 election, Chong was named to the Treasury Board, and served as chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations.[8] She first entered Gordon Campbell's cabinet in January 2004 as Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services, before being named Minister of Advanced Education that December.[9] She reprised the Seniors' and Women's Issues portfolio after the 2005 election, and went on to serve as Minister of Community Services; Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative; Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development; Minister of Healthy Living and Sport; Minister of Science and Universities; and Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development under Campbell.[9]

Chong was the subject of an MLA recall under the British Columbia Recall and Initiative Act in 2010, as part of a larger campaign opposing the Liberal government's introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax.[10][11] The recall ultimately failed, coming up short of the required signatures.[12]

After Christy Clark took over as premier in 2011, Chong was named Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.[13] She subsequently served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation from September 2012 until the end of her term in 2013.[13][14] After losing re-election in 2013, she was appointed to the University of Victoria's Board of Governors.[15]

2014 Victoria municipal election

On September 18, 2014, Chong announced her intention to run for mayor of the City of Victoria in that November's municipal election.[16] Chong subsequently lost, coming a distant third behind new mayor Lisa Helps, and previous mayor Dean Fortin.[17] She then returned to practising accounting, joining Victoria firm Chan & Associates in 2018.[4]

Community volunteer work

Chong has been an active member of the Victoria, BC community volunteering on a number of boards.[18]

  • Inaugural Member, Victoria Chinese Commerce Association[19][20]
  • Director, Victoria Dragon Boat Festival[21]

References
  1. Economics changing: Comfortable neighbourhoods now encompass young, old, rich and poor: [Final Edition] Harnett, Cindy E; Times Colonist [Victoria, B.C] 12 May 2005: A4.
  2. "Election 2014: Mayoral candidate Ida Chong". Victoria News. November 6, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  3. "Ida Chong". Victoria's Chinatown. University of Victoria. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  4. "Our Team". Chan & Associates. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  5. "Ida Chong". 100 Years of Women and the Vote. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  6. "Board of Governors 2013/14 update". University of Victoria. September 6, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  7. "39th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 16, 2013". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  8. "Biographies". Premier of British Columbia. December 14, 2004. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  9. "Campbell Cabinet" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. March 14, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  10. Harnett, Cindy (November 30, 2010). "Elections BC approves recall petition". Times Colonist.
  11. Mason, Gary (January 3, 2011). "Ida Chong Recall Campaign Makes Little Sense". The Globe and Mail.
  12. "Chong Recall Bid Fails". CBC News. February 3, 2011.
  13. "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  14. "B.C. Premier Christy Clark unveils new cabinet". CBC News. September 5, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  15. University of Victoria. "University of Victoria Board of Governors". University of Victoria.
  16. Laird, Kevin (September 18, 2014). "Ida Chong to seek Victoria mayor's seat". Victoria News. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  17. "Victoria election results 2014: Full results". Global News. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  18. Board Resourcing and Development Office. "Member Biographies: Ida Chong". Government of British Columbia.
  19. Victoria Chinese Commerce Association. "About Us: Founding Members". Victoria Chinese Commerce Association.
  20. 150 Gold Mountain. "About the VCCA (Victoria Chinese Commerce Association)". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  21. Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society. "About Us: Directors and Team". Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society.
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