By Brian Kieran, Editor OOTD, July 2024

Since the June issue of OOTD was published we have lost five former MLAs. In the many years I have been doing this job I have never had to share such a volume of sad news in a single issue.

Bob Williams

Bob Williams, one of the most influential NDPers of all time, died in July. The alumni ranks of the Social Credit Party got thinner a month earlier with the passing of former cabinet ministers Tony Brummet and Russ Fraser. We also lost two NDPers: Former MLA Shannon O’Neill and former cabinet minister Gerard Janssen.

Bob became the most powerful cabinet minister in BC’s first NDP government in the 1970s. He also served as a city planner, city councillor, ICBC overseer, and owner of the Railway Club in Vancouver.

Tony Brummet

Tony ran in the 1979 election under the Social Credit banner, won by a wide margin and began a 12-year career representing North Peace River. He was appointed Minister of Lands, Parks and Housing, then Minister of Environment, Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, and finally Minister of Education.

Russ Fraser

Russ served as Attorney General. After Premier Bill Vander Zalm’s resignation in 1991, he was considered for interim leader of the party (and thus premier) but lost the caucus vote to Rita Johnston by 21 to 17. During his time in the Legislature, he also served as Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Solicitor General.

Shannon O’Neill

Shannon was the NDP MLA for Shuswap from 1991 to 1996. She also worked for MP Nelson Riis and MLA Bill King. She was a strong supporter of the NDP’s move to change the name of the Women’s Programs Ministry to the Women’s Equality Ministry. Shannon also advocated for affordable housing, the environment, and jobs in the Salmon Arm area.

Gerard Janssen

Gerard represented the constituency of Alberni. He was elected three times, twice beating Socred/Liberal Gillian Trumper who finally defeated him in 2001. In government, he served as the NDP's caucus whip and as Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture from 2000 to 2001.

The Summer issue of Orders of the Day has more on the lives and contributions of these former members.