Randene Neill is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2024 general election. She represents the electoral district of Powell River-Sunshine Coast as a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party.[1]
Randene Neill | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship of British Columbia | |
| Assumed office November 18, 2024 | |
| Premier | David Eby |
| Preceded by | Nathan Cullen |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Powell River-Sunshine Coast | |
| Assumed office October 19, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Simons |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | BC NDP |
Early life and career
editNeill was adopted as a child by two farmers in the BC interior. She currently lives with her husband in the Garden Bay area of Pender Harbour, having moved there part time in 2017 and full time in 2020.[2] She is a communications consultant and was former television news journalist for Global BC for over 20 years.[2][3][4]
She is well known for a viral video during her time on Global. During a segment trying to get shelter dogs adopted, one of the dogs began jumping on her and licking her face very rigorously, while the other dog ran around.[5] She has her own pet dog, and has been a longtime supporter of the BC SPCA.
Political career
editNeill won the BC NDP nomination after a hotly contested nomination race. Four other candidates ran against her for the nomination, Amanda Amaral (School District 46 board chair), Darnelda Siegers (former mayor of Sechelt), Jacquie Shields (Teachers Association President) and Jäger Rosenberg (who was the youngest person to ever legally run for office in Canadian, being 17 at the time of the vote). Richard Feehan (former Minister in Alberta) also initially put his name forward, but dropped out before voting took place. The nomination process took place on June 8, 2024, using ranked ballot voting, with Neill winning on the 4th round of counting. She was endorsed by incumbent BC NDP MLA Nicholas Simons.[6][7]
Neill was appointed Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship by Premier David Eby on November 18th 2024[8]
Neill has expressed support for a proposed name change of the City of Powell River, which was requested by the Tla’amin Nation due to the assimilationist policies of Israel Powell, B.C.'s superintendent of Indian affairs from 1872 to 1889.[9]
Electoral record
edit| 2024 British Columbia general election: Powell River-Sunshine Coast | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Green | Chris Hergesheimer | 3930 | 13.47% | |||||
| Conservative | Chris Moore | 10410 | 35.69% | |||||
| New Democratic | Randene Neill | 14473 | 49.62% | |||||
| Independent | Greg Reid | 356 | 1.22% | |||||
| Total valid votes | 29169 | – | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Registered voters | ||||||||
| Source: Elections BC | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "BC election night: BC NDP's Randene Neill wins Powell River-Sunshine Coast". The Peak. October 20, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
- ^ a b "Meet the candidate: Randene Neill, BC NDP". Coast Reporter. October 11, 2024. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Copp, Jordan (October 20, 2024). "'We have to reach out to everybody, be inclusive': BC NDP's Neill gives victory speech". Coast Reporter. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ "Global BC anchor Randene Neill announces departure | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ https://globalnews.ca/video/3031508/randene-neills-surprise-reunion-with-ginger-the-kissing-pit-bull
- ^ "When will the Sunshine Coast-Powell River riding see more candidates?". Coast Reporter. May 9, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "Five Coasters considering seeking BC NDP nomination for Powell River-Sunshine Coast". Coast Reporter. February 6, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
- ^ "Cabinet position 'a privilege': Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA". Coast Reporter. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
- ^ "Randene Neill wins Powell River-Sunshine Coast NDP MLA nomination after close vote". Coast Reporter. June 8, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  | This article about a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |