John Les
{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John Les
| image =
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-suffix =
| assembly = British Columbia Legislative
| constituency_AM = Chilliwack
Chilliwack-Sumas (2001-2009)
| term_start = May 16, 2001
| term_end = May 14, 2013
| predecessor = Riding established
| successor = John Martin
| office1 = Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia
| premier1 = Gordon Campbell
| term_start1 = June 16, 2005
| term_end1 = April 1, 2008
| predecessor1 = Rich Coleman
| successor1 = John van Dongen
| office2 = Minister of Small Business and Economic Development of British Columbia
| premier2 = Gordon Campbell
| term_start2 = January 26, 2004
| term_end2 = June 16, 2005
| predecessor2 = Position established
| successor2 = Colin Hansen (Economic Development)
Rick Thorpe (Small Business)
| office3 = Mayor of Chilliwack, British Columbia
| term_start3 = 1987
| term_end3 = 1999
| predecessor3 = John Jansen
| successor3 = Clint Hames
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1952}}{{Cite web |title=Les, Hon. John (Chilliwack-Sumas) Minister of Small Business and Economic Development |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/les-hon-john-chilliwack-sumas-minister-small-business-and-economic-development |publisher=Canadian Parliamentary Guide |accessdate=2024-03-26}}Sunday shopping Chilliwack's issue: [5* Edition] Barrett, Tom. The Vancouver Sun [Vancouver, B.C] February 13, 1987: B7.
| birth_place = Chilliwack, British Columbia
| spouse = {{marriage|Mattie Les|1973}}
| party = BC Liberal
| otherparty = Liberal Party of Canada
}}
John Les (born 1952) is a Canadian politician and former member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for British Columbia, representing Chilliwack-Sumas from 2001 to 2009, and Chilliwack from 2009 to 2013. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in the cabinet of Premier Gordon Campbell as Minister of Small Business and Economic Development from 2004 to 2005, and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General from 2005 to 2008. Prior to entering provincial politics, he was a municipal councillor and mayor of Chilliwack.
Biography
Born in Chilliwack, Les was a partner in a local dairy, a real estate agent and the owner of a land development company.{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/Pages/BCLASS-Legacy.aspx#%2Fcontent%2Flegacy%2Fweb%2Fmla%2F39thparl%2Flesj.htm |title=39th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 16, 2013: MLA: John Les |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |access-date=2024-03-26 |archive-date=May 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522043850/https://www.leg.bc.ca/pages/bclass-legacy.aspx#%2Fcontent%2Flegacy%2Fweb%2Fmla%2F39thparl%2Flesj.htm |url-status=dead }} He served as a municipal councillor in Chilliwack from 1984 to 1987.{{cite news |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/john-les-a-timeline-1.286361?cache=xvlushbbrzkwk%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue |title=John Les: A Timeline |publisher=CTV News |date=2008-04-01 |access-date=2024-03-26}} With John Jansen resigning as mayor of Chilliwack following his election as MLA in 1986, Les won the 1987 mayoral by-election,{{cite news |last1=Lillicrap |first1=Bill |title=Les, Langbroek: Decisive wins |url=https://theprogress.newspapers.com/image/80553977/ |access-date=1 March 2024 |work=Chilliwack Progress |date=18 February 1987}} and served as mayor until 1999. He ran for the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1997 federal election in the riding of Fraser Valley, but lost to Reform candidate Chuck Strahl.{{cite web |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Ridings/Profile?OrganizationId=3125 |title=Profile - Fraser Valley, British Columbia (1997-04-27 - 2004-05-22) |publisher=Parliament of Canada |access-date=2024-03-26}}
He was elected MLA in the 2001 provincial election representing the British Columbia Liberal Party in the newly established riding of Chilliwack-Sumas. He was appointed to the cabinet by Premier Gordon Campbell in January 2004 to serve as Minister of Small Business and Economic Development.{{cite web|title=Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/campbell_cabinet.pdf|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|accessdate=2024-03-26}} Following his re-election in 2005, he was named Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
On March 28, 2008, Les resigned from his cabinet post pending the outcome of an investigation over allegations arising from his tenure as mayor of Chilliwack; his appointment was officially rescinded by order-in-council on April 1. A special prosecutor was appointed to look into a land deal that he was alleged to have benefited from. The investigation concluded in June 2010, with the special prosecutor stating there was no evidence to suggest that he used his public office to advance his personal interest.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ex-b-c-solicitor-general-cleared-in-land-deal-probe-1.914933 |title=Ex-BC solicitor general cleared in land deal probe |publisher=CBC News |date=June 25, 2010 |access-date=June 1, 2018}}
He was re-elected in the newly re-created Chilliwack riding in the 2009 election. Ahead of the 2011 British Columbia sales tax referendum, Les was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Harmonized Sales Tax information in October 2010.{{cite news| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/campbell-rolls-out-new-b-c-cabinet-1.939962| title = Campbell rolls out new B.C. cabinet |publisher=CBC News |date=2010-10-25 |accessdate=2024-03-26 }} After Christy Clark took over as premier in March 2011, Les was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, and became a member of the Treasury Board and the Policies and Priorities Committee.{{cite news|title=Chilliwack MLA holds 'influential' posts in new B.C. government|url=https://www.theprogress.com/news/chilliwack-mla-holds-influential-posts-in-new-b-c-government-1841346|access-date=2024-03-26 |date=2011-03-15 |first=Robert |last=Freeman |publisher=Chilliwack Progress}}
During his time as MLA, he had chaired the Government Caucus, the Legislative Special Committee on the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform and the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. He was also a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations, the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills.
On August 30, 2012, Les announced that he would not seek re-election as MLA for Chilliwack in the 2013 general election.{{cite news|title=Chilliwack MLA John Les won't run for re-election|url=http://www.theprogress.com/news/168002926.html|access-date=May 14, 2015|date=August 30, 2012|work=Chilliwack Progress|archive-date=April 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404171848/http://www.theprogress.com/news/168002926.html|url-status=dead}} In March 2014 the BC government announced the appointment of Les to lead a consultation on seismic preparedness, with an annual compensation of $140,000; the appointment was withdrawn shortly thereafter.{{cite news| url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/liberals-withdraw-john-les-140k-patronage-appointment-1.2570307| title = Liberals withdraw John Les $140K patronage appointment |publisher=CBC News |date=2014-03-12 |accessdate=2024-03-26 }}
He and his wife Mattie have been married since 1973; they have six children together.
Election results (partial)
=Federal=
{{CANelec/top|CA|1997|Fraser Valley (electoral district)|Fraser Valley|percent=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Reform|Chuck Strahl|33,101|62.85|$57,306}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|John Les|11,569|21.96|$63,061}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Rob Lees|4,680|8.88|$21,339}}
{{CANelec|CA|PC|Harry Wiens|1,714|3.25|$6,999}}
{{CANelec|CA|Christian Heritage|Rodger N. Brown|1,047|1.98|$23,870}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Carol Battaglio|342|0.64|}}
{{CANelec|CA|Natural Law|Patrick Boylan|118|0.22|$5}}
{{CANelec|CA|Independent|Sa Tan|95|0.18|}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|52,666|100.0 }}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|182|0.34}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|52,848|67.02}}
{{CANelec/note|This riding was re-created from Fraser Valley East and Fraser Valley West, both of which elected a Reform Party candidate. Chuck Strahl was the incumbent from Fraser Valley East.}}
{{end}}
=Provincial=
{{2005 British Columbia general election/Chilliwack-Sumas}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Gordon Campbell Ministry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Les, John}}
Category:British Columbia municipal councillors
Category:Candidates in the 1997 Canadian federal election
Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia
Category:20th-century mayors of places in British Columbia
Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Category:Liberal Party of Canada candidates for the Canadian House of Commons