Jonathan Wilkinson

{{About|the Canadian politician|the English footballer|Jonathan Wilkinson (footballer)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Jonathan Wilkinson

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP|size=100%}}

| image = Jonathan Wilkinson 2023 (cropped).png

| alt =

| caption = Wilkinson in 2023

| office = Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

| term_start = October 26, 2021

| term_end = May 13, 2025

| primeminister = Justin Trudeau
Mark Carney

| predecessor = Seamus O'Regan

| successor = Tim Hodgson

| office1 = Minister of Environment and Climate Change

| term_start1 = November 20, 2019

| term_end1 = October 26, 2021

| primeminister1 = Justin Trudeau

| predecessor1 = Catherine McKenna

| successor1 = Steven Guilbeault

| office2 = Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

| term_start2 = July 18, 2018

| term_end2 = November 20, 2019

| primeminister2 = Justin Trudeau

| predecessor2 = Dominic LeBlanc

| successor2 = Bernadette Jordan

| office3 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

| term_start3 = December 2, 2015

| term_end3 = July 17, 2018

| primeminister3 = Justin Trudeau

| successor3 = Sean Fraser

| riding4 = North Vancouver-Capilano
North Vancouver (2015-2025)

| parliament4 = Canadian

| term_start4 = October 19, 2015

| term_end4 =

| predecessor4 = Andrew Saxton

| successor4 =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|06|11}}

| birth_place = Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| profession = Businessman

| party = Liberal

| otherparty = New Democratic (formerly)

| alma_mater = University of Saskatchewan (B.A.)
University of Oxford, McGill University (M.A)

| residence =

| footnotes =

| spouse =

| children =

}}

Jonathan D. Wilkinson {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP}} (born June 11, 1965) is a Canadian politician and former businessman. A member of the Liberal Party, he has represented North Vancouver—Capilano in the House of Commons since the 2015 federal election.

Wilkinson previously served as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard from 2018 to 2019, Minister of Environment and Climate Change from 2019 to 2021 and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources from 2021 to 2025.

Before entering federal politics, Wilkinson worked as a civil servant and businessman, spending 20 years in the private sector, primarily with clean technology companies.

Early life and education

Wilkinson was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and grew up in Saskatoon.{{cite web | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/careers-leadership/bioteqs-jonathan-wilkinson-a-business-oddity-but-no-fish-out-of-water/article554291/ | title=BioteQ's Jonathan Wilkinson a business oddity, but no fish out of water | work=The Globe and Mail | date=6 September 2012 | access-date=3 November 2015 | author=Blackwell, Richard}} He was the former leader of the New Democratic Party's youth wing in Saskatchewan.{{cite web | url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=82b5ac62-54fc-4b87-97b5-c02c11be6ec9 | title=Liberals select North Shore candidates for 2015 federal election | publisher=Vancouver Sun | date=28 June 2014 | access-date=3 November 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324223754/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=82b5ac62-54fc-4b87-97b5-c02c11be6ec9 | archive-date=24 March 2016 }}

Wilkinson earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Saskatchewan in 1988,{{Cite web |title=Saskatoon-raised Jonathan Wilkinson named federal environment minister, handed tricky carbon tax file - Alumni and Friends |url=https://alumni.usask.ca/news/2019/saskatoon-raised-jonathan-wilkinson-named-federal-environment-minister,-handed-tricky-carbon-tax-file.php |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=alumni |language=en}} and was named the Prairies Rhodes Scholar the same year. He earned master's degrees in international relations, politics, and economics from the University of Oxford and McGill University.{{Cite web |last=Branswell |first=Brenda |date=2020-02-20 |title=Environment minister relishes new job - "daunting" challenges and all |url=https://mcgillnews.mcgill.ca/environment-minister-ready-for-daunting-challenges/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=McGill News |language=en-CA}}

Career prior to politics

Wilkinson was an advisor to Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow and served in the provincial civil service from 1991 to 1995. His work included a role as part of the Charlottetown Accord negotiations.{{Cite web |date=2015-11-24 |title=Profile of Jonathan Wilkinson, North Vancouver MP |url=https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-politics/clean-tech-exec-looks-leave-mark-public-office-8244805 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Business in Vancouver |language=en}}

In 1995 Wilkinson joined the consulting firm Bain & Company at their Toronto branch. In 1999, he relocated to Vancouver to become the chief operating officer at QuestAir Technologies, a gas purification company. He was appointed President and chief executive officer in 2002.{{Cite web |last=bioteq_admin |date=2011-09-12 |title=BioteQ Appoints Jonathan Wilkinson as CEO |url=https://www.bqewater.com/bioteq-appoints-jonathan-wilkinson-ceo/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=BQE Water |language=en-US}}

In 2009, he became the senior vice-president for business development in Nexterra Systems, a biomass company. In 2011, Wilkinson became the chief executive officer of BQE Waters (formerly BioteQ Environmental Technologies){{Cite web |last=bioteq_admin |date=2017-02-27 |title=BioteQ to Change its Name to BQE Water |url=https://www.bqewater.com/bioteq-change-name-bqe-water/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=BQE Water |language=en-US}} a water treatment company based in Vancouver.

Political career

Wilkinson re-entered politics as a member of the Liberal Party, securing the nomination for the riding of North Vancouver—Capilano.{{Cite web |last=Richter |first=Brent |title=Former West Van mayor and green-tech executive will face Conservative incumbents on North Shore (updated) |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/former-west-van-mayor-and-green-tech-executive-will-face-conservative-incumbents-on-north-shore}} In the 2015 federal election he defeated incumbent Conservative Party candidate Andrew Saxton, receiving 56.7% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=Elections Canada |url=https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/41/9805e.html}} His victory came amidst a broader surge of Liberal support in Greater Vancouver during the 2015 federal election.{{Cite news |title=Liberals dominate in Metro Vancouver |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/liberals-dominate-in-metro-vancouver |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210617175319/https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/liberals-dominate-in-metro-vancouver |archive-date=2021-06-17 |access-date=2025-05-03 |work=vancouversun |language=en-CA}}

Wilkinson was re-elected in the 2019 federal election, where he again faced Conservative Party candidate Andrew Saxton. He received 42.9% of the vote, a reduced vote compared to the 2015 federal election.{{Cite web |title=Elections Canada |url=https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2019app/51/11210e.html}}

In the 2021 Canadian federal election, Wilkinson was again re-elected, receiving 45.1% of the vote, a slight increase from his 2019 result.{{Cite web |title=Elections Canada |url=https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2021app/53/11638e.html}}

Wilkinson was re-elected for a fourth term in the 2025 Canadian federal election. He received 59.8% of the vote, his highest result to date.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Liberal Jonathan Wilkinson re-elected in North Vancouver–Capilano |url=https://www.nsnews.com/2025-canada-votes/federal-election-north-vancouver-capilano-results-10583785 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=North Shore News |language=en}}

Wilkinson was first appointed to the federal cabinet on July 18, 2018, as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. Prior to this, he had served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna.{{Cite web |last=Laanela |first=Mike |date= |title=North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson named federal minister of fisheries, oceans, coast guard |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/north-vancouver-mp-jonathan-wilkinson-named-federal-minister-of-fisheries-oceans-coast-guard-1.4751554}}

On November 20, 2019, he was appointed Minister of Environment and Climate Change.{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Adam |title=Saskatoon-raised Jonathan Wilkinson named federal environment minister, handed tricky carbon tax file |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-wilkinson-enivornment-minister-1.5366361}} In 2020, he released Canada's plan to meet its 2030 emissions reduction targets, titled "A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy."{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=2020-12-11 |title=A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/news/2020/12/a-healthy-environment-and-a-healthy-economy.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=www.canada.ca}}

On October 26, 2021, Wilkinson was shuffled to the role of Minister of Natural Resources, succeeding Seamus O'Regan.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-27 |title=Trudeau's cabinet shuffle: North Van MP Wilkinson moves to natural resources |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/trudeaus-cabinet-shuffle-north-vancouver-mp-wilkinson-moves-to-natural-resources-4553524 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=North Shore News |language=en}} His title was amended on July 26, 2023, when he became Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=Prime Minister announces changes to the Ministry |url=https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2023/07/26/prime-minister-announces-changes-ministry |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en}} Wilkinson retained this role in the first cabinet of Mark Carney.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson remains in new Prime Minister's cabinet |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/north-vancouver-mp-jonathan-wilkinson-remains-in-new-prime-ministers-cabinet-10376708 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=North Shore News |language=en}}

As an MP, Wilkinson has been active in supporting the Iranian-Canadian community. During the 2022–2023 Iranian protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, Wilkinson joined several Canadian MPs in publicly sponsoring political prisoners detained by the Iranian government.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Wilkinson |url=https://jonathanwilkinson.libparl.ca/2023/01/03/iranian-endorsement-letter-31-12-2022/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=jonathanwilkinson.libparl.ca}} Among those he sponsored were Dr. Hamid Ghare-Hassanlou and his wife Farzaneh Ghare-Hassanlou, Mohammad Rakhshani, and rapper Toomaj Salehi. Wilkinson stated that political sponsorship aims to increase international scrutiny and pressure for the release of individuals facing imprisonment or capital punishment in Iran.{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Wilkinson |url=https://jonathanwilkinson.libparl.ca/2023/07/12/663/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=jonathanwilkinson.libparl.ca}}{{Cite web |last=Jafari |first=Hamid |date=2024-07-03 |title=Death sentence overturned for Iranian rapper sponsored by Vancouver MP |url=https://www.newcanadianmedia.ca/death-sentence-overturned-for-iranian-rapper-sponsored-by-vancouver-mp/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=New Canadian Media |language=en-US}}

In January 2025, Wilkinson announced he was considering running in the 2025 Liberal Party of Canada leadership election upon the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. However, he decided not to run, citing the importance of continuing his role as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.{{cite news |last1=Coyne |first1=Todd |date=January 17, 2025 |title=Jonathan Wilkinson will not run for Liberal leadership |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/jonathan-wilkinson-will-not-run-for-liberal-leadership/ |access-date=January 17, 2025 |publisher=CTV News}} He subsequently supported Mark Carney.{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/JonathanWNV/status/1882503980049412169 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250125082205/https://x.com/JonathanWNV/status/1882503980049412169 |archive-date=2025-01-25 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}

Electoral record

{{Canadian election result/top|CA|2015|North Vancouver (electoral district)|North Vancouver|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes|}}

{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Jonathan Wilkinson|36,458|56.65|+26.94|$149,970.51}}

{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Andrew Saxton|17,301|26.88|-20.67|$149,776.24}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes/Expense limit|64,354|100.00| |$220,823.27}}

{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|218|0.34|–}}

{{CANelec/source|Source: Elections Canada[http://www.elections.ca/Scripts/vis/candidates?L=e&ED=59021&EV=41&EV_TYPE=1&PC=&PROV=BC&PROVID=59&MAPID=&QID=8&PAGEID=17&TPAGEID=&PD=&STAT_CODE_ID=-1 Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for North Vancouver, 30 September 2015][http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&dir=cand/canlim&document=index&lang=e Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates]{{Cite web|url=http://enr.elections.ca/ElectoralDistricts.aspx?lang=f|title = Résultats du soir d'élection - Circonscriptions}}}}

References

External links

[https://jwilkinson.liberal.ca/ Official Website]
[https://pm.gc.ca/en/cabinet/honourable-jonathan-wilkinson Bio & mandate from the Prime Minister]
{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=18444}}

{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=29}}

{{ministry box cabinet posts

| post3preceded = Seamus O'Regan

| post3 = Minister of Natural Resources

| post3years = October 26, 2021 – May 13, 2025

| post3note =

| post3followed = Tim Hodgson

| post2preceded = Catherine McKenna

| post2 = Minister of Environment and Climate Change

| post2years = November 20, 2019 – October 26, 2021

| post2note =

| post2followed = Steven Guilbeault