Laurie Throness

Laurie Throness (born 1958) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election.[9] He represented the electoral district of Chilliwack-Kent as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party. After making controversial remarks regarding the NDP's free contraception plan, he resigned from the BC Liberal Party caucus on October 15, 2020. He ran as an independent candidate in the 2020 BC general election. Before becoming a politician, Throness earned a place at the University of Cambridge where he studied for a Ph.D in History. After Cambridge, he went on to publish a book in 2008 on the theological origins of the Penitentiary Act of 1779.

Laurie Throness
MLA
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Chilliwack-Kent
Chilliwack-Hope (2013-2017)
In office
May 14, 2013 – September 21, 2020
Preceded byGwen O'Mahony
Succeeded byKelli Paddon
Personal details
Born1959 or 1960 (age 63–64)[1]
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Political partyBC Liberal
Independent[lower-alpha 1]
Residence(s)Chilliwack, BC
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
ProfessionHistorian

Throness was previously the party's candidate in the electoral district of Chilliwack-Hope in a by-election in 2012, following the resignation of Barry Penner, but was defeated by Gwen O'Mahony of the New Democrats. He defeated O'Mahony in the 2013 general election, capturing 49.15% of votes cast compared to her 36.01% share of the vote. The BC Conservative candidate received 10.77% of the votes, and the Green Party candidate received 4.07%.[10]

Political views and controversy

Throness has leaned towards conservative political and social views, and has made anti-LGBTQ comments.[11] In July 2020 he defended advertising in the socially conservative Christian lifestyle magazine, The Light Magazine.[12] The magazine routinely hosts articles supporting conversion therapy, which attempts to "convert" individuals to a heterosexual orientation and treats same sex attraction as a mental illness.[13] Throness was defiant, stating "he would advertise in the magazine again because it aligns with his values as a “Biblical Christian” and it’s an important way to reach his constituents."[12]

In an online all-candidates meeting on October 14, 2020, prior to the 2020 British Columbia general election, Throness compared the NDP's plan for free birth control to eugenics, the discredited theory of selective mating for "desirable" traits.[14] Throness was quoted as saying "And maybe they’ll have fewer babies so there will be fewer poor people in the future. And to me, that contains an odour that I don’t like and so I don’t really support what the NDP is doing there and that’s my answer.”[14] Following his comments he was removed from the BC Liberal Party's candidate slate, but continued to campaign for reelection as an independent before being defeated by NDP candidate Kelli Paddon.[15]

Electoral record
2020 British Columbia general election: Chilliwack-Kent
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticKelli Paddon8,26836.42+4.02$1,969.76
LiberalLaurie Throness6,96430.68−22.07$31,151.35
IndependentJason Lum5,37023.65–$14,923.72
GreenJeff Hammersmark1,8228.03−6.32$0.00
LibertarianEli Gagné2781.22–$0.00
Total valid votes 22,702100.00–
Total rejected ballots   
Turnout   
Registered voters
Source: Elections BC[16][17]
2017 British Columbia general election: Chilliwack-Kent
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
LiberalLaurie Throness11,84152.75$38,776
New DemocraticPatti MacAhonic7,27332.40$25,581
GreenJosie Bleuer3,33514.85$62
Total valid votes 22,449100.00
Total rejected ballots 1450.64
Turnout 22,59459.55
Source: Elections BC[18]
2013 British Columbia general election: Chilliwack-Hope
Party Candidate Votes%
LiberalLaurie Throness10,05349.15
New DemocraticGwen O'Mahony7,36436.01
ConservativeMichael Henshall2,20210.77
IndependentRyan Ashley McKinnon8334.07
Total valid votes 20,452100.00
Total rejected ballots 1170.57
Turnout 20,56957.38
Source: Elections BC[19]

Notes
  1. Incumbent BC Liberal MLA Laurie Throness previously contested Chilliwack-Kent as the Liberal candidate, until his resignation from the party on October 15 to run as an independent candidate after comparing free contraception to eugenics. However, Throness is still considered by Elections BC to be the Liberal candidate.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

References
  1. To serve & reflect; Laurie Throness looks purpose-built to carry the torch for local Liberals Henderson, Paul J. Chilliwack Times [Chilliwack, B.C] 12 Jan 2012: A.1.
  2. Jon Azpiri and Simon Little (October 15, 2020). "BC Liberal candidate Laurie Throness resigns following 'eugenics' comments". Global News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  3. Larsen, Karin (October 15, 2020). "Laurie Throness resigns from B.C. Liberal Party after comparing free contraception to eugenics". CBC News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. Holliday, Ian (October 15, 2020). "Candidate resigns from BC Liberals after eugenics comments". CTV News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. Little, Simon (October 16, 2020). "'In it to win it': Ex-BC Liberal candidate to run as independent in Chilliwack-Kent". Global News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  6. Crawford, Tiffany (October 16, 2020). "B.C. Election 2020: 'I'm in it to win it,' says ex Liberal candidate Laurie Throness". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  7. Bailey, Ian (October 16, 2020). "Ousted BC Liberal candidate Laurie Throness to run as an Independent". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  8. Penner, Derrick (October 16, 2020). "Throness quits Liberals after comparing NDP contraception plan to eugenics". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  9. "Fraser Valley: End of the line for van Dongen as Liberals bolster stronghold in Fraser Valley". The Province, May 15, 2013.
  10. http://www.elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2013GE/CHH.pdf
  11. Amir, Mo (October 5, 2020). "OPINION: We need to talk about Laurie Throness and homophobia in the BC Liberals". vancouverisawesome.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  12. St. Denis, Jen (July 3, 2020). "BC Liberals called out for advertising in magazine that defends conversion therapy". CTV News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  13. "Federal Government introduces legislation to criminalize conversion therapy-related conduct in Canada". Government of Canada- Department of Justice. March 9, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  14. Azpiri, Jon; Little, Simon (October 15, 2020). "BC Liberal candidate Laurie Throness resigns following 'eugenics' comments". Global News. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  15. Mike Hall, "Former BC Liberal candidate Laurie Throness running as independent". CKWX, October 16, 2020.
  16. "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved 2020-11-26.
  17. "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. "Statement of Votes – 41st Provincial General Election – May 9, 2017" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  19. "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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