Naomi Yamamoto

Yamamoto is a third-generation Japanese-Canadian. Both her parents were born in Vancouver, but were interned in the Kootenays for part of World War II. Yamamoto was also born in Vancouver and grew up with one brother and one sister; the whole family moved to North Vancouver in 1970. Her father had instilled in her an appreciation of outdoor activities, such as fishing, trail running, and cycling, which turned into lifelong hobbies.{{cite journal |url= http://jccabulletin-geppo.ca/headline/community-profile-naomi-yamamoto-mla/ |title= Community Profile: Naomi Yamamoto, MLA |first= John |last= Greenaway |date= September 3, 2011 |journal= The Bulletin: A Journal of Japanese Canadian Community, History & Culture |access-date= December 8, 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120422041628/http://jccabulletin-geppo.ca/headline/community-profile-naomi-yamamoto-mla/ |archive-date= April 22, 2012 }}

She majored in film and television studies at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in 1982.{{cite web|url=https://governmentrelations.ubc.ca/files/2010/04/NorthShore6579.pdf |title=UBC in your community: North Shore |publisher=University of British Columbia |access-date=2024-11-02 }} She went on to work at her family's Japan Camera outlet for seven years. In 1988, along with a business partner, she opened her own company, Lasercolor Design & Printing, which specialized in laser printing. With a growing clientele in the film and television industry who needed props, the business was renamed Lasercolor Business Graphics and Props. As laser printing became more common, the company was renamed again to Tora Design, focusing more on the design aspect.

She started volunteering at the North Shore Neighbourhood House, which assisted seniors and at-risk children. She was active with the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce{{cite news |title= On the Move |date=July 4, 1994 |newspaper= The Vancouver Sun |page=D10}} and served one term (1997–98) as president of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce.{{cite news |title= Moves |date=June 9, 1997 |newspaper= The Vancouver Sun |page=D2}} She spent six years, beginning in 1995, on the Capilano College board of governors;{{cite news |title= Regional Roundup: North Vancouver |date=October 31, 1997 |newspaper= The Vancouver Sun |page=B4}} eleven years, beginning in 1998, on the North Shore Credit Union board of directors; and eight years, beginning in 2001, on the Vancouver Coastal Health board of directors.{{cite news |title= Health board chosen |last=Wild |first= Matthew |date=April 14, 2002 |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver |page=27}}

In 1998 she helped organize a BC-specific economic summit{{cite news |title= Summit spotlight turns to Pattison |last=Hunter |first= Justine |date=October 30, 1998 |newspaper= The Vancouver Sun |page=F1}} and participate in a provincial government task force examining how to improve the province's economy.{{cite news |title= Ideological differences limit the red-tape commission |date=September 8, 1998 |newspaper= Times Colonist |location=Victoria, British Columbia |page=B6}}{{cite news |title= B.C. businesses demand lower taxes, less red tape |last=Ross |first= Howard |author2=Peter Kennedy |date=November 9, 1998 |newspaper= The Globe and Mail |page=A3}} She was recognized by the Vancouver Board of Trade in 2000 with the Women in the Spotlight Award,{{cite news |title= Spotlight pointed on 'well-rounded' involvement |first=Barbara |last=Aarsteinsen |date=March 9, 2000 |newspaper= The Vancouver Sun |page=D1}} and by the newspaper Business in Vancouver in 2003 with their Influential Women in Business Award. She also served on the board of directors for the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation for Young Artists, beginning in 2004.{{cite news |title= Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation Lunch |last=McGrath |first= Paul |date=July 14, 2004 |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=16}}

In February 2007 she started work as the president and general manager of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, a position she kept until she was elected MLA.{{cite news |title= NV chamber head named: New president brings wealth of experience |last=Seyd |first= Jane |date=January 24, 2007 |newspaper=North Shore News|page=5}} In that role she supported the introduction of the carbon tax{{cite news |title= MLA McIntyre high on carbon tax |last=Weldon |first= James |date=February 22, 2008 |newspaper=North Shore News |page=1}} and opposed a proposal for introducing a statutory holiday in February.{{cite news |title= Labour argues for Feb. stat: Chamber president sees just another cost |last=Geake |first= Elisabeth |date=February 28, 2007 |newspaper=North Shore News |page=11}}

She is married to Fred Pinnock, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer.{{cite news|title=Inquiry hears Rich Coleman focused on money, not organized crime at B.C. casinos |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/inquiry-hears-rich-coleman-focused-on-money-not-organized-crime-at-b-c-casinos-1.5176466?cache=uhsbmlahuccoo|publisher=CTV News|agency=The Canadian Press|first=Camille|last=Bains|date=2020-11-06|accessdate=2024-11-02}}

Yamamoto expressed interest in pursuing a career in provincial politics in June 2008, when there was speculation that long-time North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Daniel Jarvis was going to retire.{{cite news |title= MLA Jarvis to seek re-election |last=Cooper |first= Sam |date=June 12, 2008 |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook|page=9}} While Jarvis kept his options open, North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Katherine Whittred did retire. In the subsequent BC Liberal Party nomination meeting for the riding, Yamamoto was challenged by former Member of Parliament Don Bell and former Vancouver city councillor Jennifer Clarke.{{cite news |title= Naomi Yamamoto running for BC Lib nomination in North Van; Don Bell still mum on future |last=Cooper |first= Sam |date=November 21, 2008 |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=1}}{{cite news |title= Lonsdale Liberal nomination race intrigues |last=Lautens |first= Trevor |date=February 20, 2009 |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=6}} Yamamoto was considered the underdog but defeated Bell in the second round of the preferential ballot.{{cite news |title= Yamamoto topples Bell and Clarke in NV-Lonsdale |last=Cooper |first= Sam |date=March 2, 2009 |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=1}}

In the May 2009 general election, Yamamoto faced former District of North Vancouver mayor Janice Harris for the BC New Democratic Party (NDP), acupuncturist Michelle Corcos for the Green Party,{{cite news |title= Green candidate has big-picture approach; Michelle Corcos to run in North Vancouver-Lonsdale |last=Barrett |first= Jessica |date=April 8, 2009 |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=12}} former leader of the BC Reform Party Ron Gamble, and BC Conservative Party candidate Ian McLeod.{{cite news |title=Meet the candidates |date=April 30, 2009 |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=1}} While the riding was previously considered safe for the BC Liberals, Harris was also considered a star candidate for the NDP.{{cite news |title= Hot ridings to watch; Here are 10 election contests where seats could change hands, the races are tight, the issues tense and the candidates touchy |last=Bermingham |first= John |date=April 14, 2009 |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |page=A6}} Both candidates had awkward moments, with Yamamoto refusing to participate in an all-candidates forum sponsored by the local teacher's association.{{cite news |title=Yamamoto backs out of North Van all-candidates meeting |first=Daniel |last=Pi |date=May 4, 2009 |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=1}} The North Shore Credit Union, of which Harris was a member and Yamamoto a board member, had donated $7,500 to the BC Liberal Party.{{cite news |title= Harris rips credit union for donation; N. Shore Credit Union gives Liberals $7,500 while Yamamoto on its board |last=Seyd |first= Jane |date=April 24, 2009 |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |page=1}} Nonetheless, Yamamoto won the election, making her the first person with Japanese ancestry to be elected MLA in BC.{{cite news |title=Yamamoto becomes B.C.'s first-ever Japanese-Canadian MLA |first=Sam |last=Cooper |date=May 12, 2009 |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver |page=1}}

In the 39th Parliament, Yamamoto's BC Liberal Party formed a majority government, and she was named to Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/yamamoton.htm|title=MLA: Hon. Naomi Yamamoto|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403060525/https://www.leg.bc.ca/pages/bclass-legacy.aspx#%2Fcontent%2Flegacy%2Fweb%2Fmla%2F39thParl%2FyamamotoN.htm|archive-date=2018-04-03|url-status=dead}}{{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=2024-11-02}} In this position she worked with American and Canadian federal officials in resolving US-Canada border issues prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver,{{cite news |title=Amtrak to add second run from Seattle to Vancouver for 2010 Games |last=Levitz |first=Stephanie |newspaper=The Canadian Press |date=July 3, 2009}}{{cite news |title=Homeland Security chief tours Olympic centre in Washington |last=Johnson |first=Gene |newspaper=Kamloops Daily News |date=July 28, 2009 |page=4}} as well as hosting officials from other governments during the games. She helped coordinate the provincial government response to the US state of Montana and the United Nations concerning resource extraction in Flathead River Valley that was impacting the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park; the province implemented a short term ban on mining and oil/gas extraction, followed a permanent ban in a designated area with the Flathead Watershed Area Conservation Act in 2011.{{cite news |title=UN review could settle mining dispute; Company exploring for gold near park |last=Cuthbertson |first=Richard |newspaper=Calgary Herald |date=September 17, 2009 |page=B1}}{{cite news |title=B.C. protects Flathead; Environmentalists win ban on oil, gas, mining projects |last=Cuthbertson |first=Richard |newspaper=Calgary Herald |date=February 10, 2010 |page=B7}}

She was a strong advocate of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST),{{cite news |title=Provincial deficit to jump to $2.8 billion; MLAs defend government priorities |last=Seyd |first=Jane |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=September 2, 2009 |page=1}}{{cite news |title=HST 'transformation' will strengthen B.C. Economy |last=Yamamoto |first=Naomi |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=June 9, 2010 |page=6}} as she had been lobbying in favour of its introduction in BC for years prior to running for political office.{{cite news |title=HST... and the Shore |last=Walkinshaw |first= Bruce |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=August 31, 2011 |page=1}} However, it proved to be an unpopular initiative with 6,786 people in her North Vancouver-Lonsdale riding signing the FightHST group's petition asking for it to be repealed; the FightHST group also considered conducting a recall campaign against Yamamoto.{{cite news |title=MLAs targeted for recall vote; Anti-HST campaigners plan to force North Van reps from office |last=Alldritt |first=Benjamin |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=August 13, 2010 |page=1}} Just prior to his resignation, Premier Campbell shuffled his cabinet in October 2010, moving Yamamoto to the new role of Minister of State for Building Code Renewal. In this position she was to oversee the modernization of the provincial building code with considerations given to new techniques and technologies, as well as reconciling provisions for single- and multi-family dwellings.{{cite news |title=Campbell gives Yamamoto new portfolio; Need to update construction practices, says MLA |last=Weldon |first=James |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver |date=October 27, 2010 |page=3}}

In the 2011 BC Liberal leadership election triggered by Campbell's resignation, Yamamoto endorsed George Abbott. She had found all the leadership contenders held similar views on economic issues, health care and education, but that Abbott was the more personable contender.{{cite news |title=North Van MLA casts support for George Abbott |last=Hoekstra |first=Greg |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=February 1, 2011 |page=1}} After Christy Clark won the party leadership and became premier, she promoted Yamamoto to Minister of Advanced Education in March 2011.{{cite web|title=Christy Clark Cabinet: 2011-2017 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/christyclarkcabinet.pdf|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|accessdate=2024-11-02}}{{cite news |title=North Van MLA nets new cabinet position |last=Hoekstra |first=Greg |newspaper=The North Shore Outlook |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=March 14, 2011 |page=1}} She toured various post-secondary institutions across the province{{cite news |title=Education to create more Northern opportunities |last=Lux |first=Ryan |newspaper=Alaska Highway News |location=Fort St. John, British Columbia |date=March 31, 2011 |page=1}}{{cite news |title=P.G. hosts education frontbencher |last=Nielsen |first=Mark |newspaper=Prince George Citizen |location=Prince George, British Columbia |date=March 31, 2011 |page=3}}{{cite news |title=Cabinet minister says student debt not so bad |last=Smith |first= Jennifer |newspaper= Kelowna Capital News |location=Kelowna, British Columbia |date=July 8, 2011 |page=1}}{{cite news |title=College asks for four-year nursing degree; MLA, College President in talks with Minister of Advanced Education |last=Crawley |first= Bruce |author2=Sally MacDonald |newspaper=Daily Townsman |location=Cranbrook, British Columbia |date=September 12, 2011 |page=3}} and announced $1.5 million for healthcare training programs,{{cite news |title=Northern Lights College benefits from healthcare funding |last=Burnett |first= Stewart |newspaper= Alaska Highway News |location=Fort St. John, British Columbia |date=August 25, 2011 |page=3}} $500,000 for a First Nations teaching program,{{cite news |title=B.C. looks to get more First Nations teachers |newspaper=Dawson Creek Daily News |location=Dawson Creek, British Columbia |date=April 4, 2011 |page=3}} and $300,000 to train First Nations aquaculture workers.{{cite news |title=VIU receives $167K for aquaculture workers |newspaper=Nanaimo Daily News |location=Nanaimo, British Columbia |date=June 22, 2011 |page=5}} She rebuffed calls for greater student affordability and provincial funding for the universities, defending the existing student loan program{{cite news |title=Cap U funding crunch makes cuts likely |last=Holloway |first= Tessa |newspaper=North Shore News |location=North Vancouver |date=November 20, 2011 |page=3}} and the existing provincial funding formula,{{cite news |title=Cap U faculty protests program cuts; Adult Basic Education, literacy programs slashed in new budget |last=Holloway |first= Tessa |newspaper= North Shore News |location=North Vancouver, British Columbia |date=May 22, 2011 |page=1}} citing the "challenging fiscal environment".{{cite news |title=Minister says VIU funding formula remains sufficient |last=Walker |first=Dustin |newspaper=Nanaimo Daily News |location=Nanaimo, British Columbia |date=May 4, 2011 |page=5}}{{cite news |title=Party leaders in campaign mode even without an election |last=Hunter |first= Justine |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=September 13, 2011 |page=S1}}{{cite news |title=Minister defends Liberal advanced education policies |last=Schwitek |first= Jessica |newspaper=The Golden Star |location=Golden, British Columbia |date=November 22, 2011 |page=1}} She advocated for a greater role for international students,{{cite news |title=Launching the next generation as international citizens |last=Yamamoto |first= Naomi |newspaper= Alaska Highway News |location=Fort St. John, British Columbia |date=June 27, 2011 |page=4}} which Premier Clark's BC Jobs Plan called for increasing by 50% within four years the number of international students in BC.{{cite news |title=International students key |last=Cassidy |first= Olivier |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |date=September 21, 2011 |page=6}} The BC Jobs Plan also called for the creation of a new international education council, which seemed to duplicate the existing BC Council for International Education{{cite news |title=Clark targets education in jobs plan |last=Shaw |first= Rob |newspaper=Times Colonist |location=Victoria, British Columbia |date=September 21, 2011 |page=A3}} and led to criticism that the government was either re-announcing old measures or unaware of the existing council.{{cite news |title=Results will be paramount to Clark's future after five days of jobs rhetoric |last=Palmer |first= Vaughn |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|date=September 24, 2011 |page=A3}} Yamamoto supported the creation of the new council, as an independent steering committee with a broader scope.{{cite news |title=B.C. faces tough competition in bid for international students |last=Steffenhagen |first= Janet |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun|date=September 21, 2011 |page=A2}} Also, "Premier looks to cash in on international students" by Jonathan Fowlie, same page.

As Minister of Advanced Education, Yamamoto introduced the Advanced Education Statutes Amendment Act, 2011 ([http://www.leg.bc.ca/39th4th/1st_read/gov18-1.htm Bill 18]), which sought to implement several measures, including harmonizing the federal and provincial student load procedure, expanding the Personal Education Number system which tracks students in the BC educational system to also include private educational institutions, specifying that board members of colleges and universities are to act in the best interests of the institution, and updating the Architectural Institute of BC's dispute resolution process.{{cite news |title=Bill will cut students' paperwork for loans |last=Kines |first= Lindsay |newspaper=Times Colonist |location=Victoria, British Columbia |date=November 4, 2011 |page=A5}} The bill was introduced on November 3, 2011, but was not adopted before the winter break.

In May 2012, with her father in attendance, Yamamoto introduced the province of British Columbia's formal apology for its role in the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II.{{cite news|title=B.C. apologizes for 1940s Japanese-Canadian internments |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-apologizes-for-1940s-japanese-canadian-internments-1.1260478|publisher=CBC News|agency=The Canadian Press|date=2012-05-07|accessdate=2024-11-02}}

Yamamoto was re-assigned as Minister of State for Small Business in September 2012; she remained in cabinet after winning re-election in 2013,{{cite news|title=Most of Clark's cabinet ministers win re-election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.1385392|publisher=CBC News|date=2013-05-15|accessdate=2024-11-02}} with her position re-titled to Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business.{{cite news|title=B.C. Premier Christy Clark unveils her new cabinet |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-premier-christy-clark-unveils-her-new-cabinet-1.1387793|publisher=CBC News|date=2013-06-07|accessdate=2024-11-02}} In July 2015 she was named to the newly established position of Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness.{{cite news|title=Rookie MLA to oversee B.C. education after cabinet shuffle |url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/rookie-mla-to-oversee-b-c-education-after-cabinet-shuffle-1.2494953|publisher=CTV News|date=2015-07-30|accessdate=2024-11-02}}{{cite news|title=Is B.C.'s government ready for an earthquake? |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/british-columbia-earthquake-government-response-1.3808591|publisher=CBC News|date=2016-10-17|accessdate=2024-11-02}}

She ran for re-election in 2017,{{cite news|title=B.C. Votes 2017: North Vancouver-Lonsdale riding profile |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/british-columbia-2017-election-north-vancouver-lonsdale-1.4061527|publisher=CBC News|first=Justin |last=McElroy |date=2017-05-01|accessdate=2024-11-02}} but was defeated by NDP candidate Bowinn Ma.{{cite news|title=With B.C. government in limbo, defeated cabinet ministers are still cabinet ministers |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/cabinet-ministers-government-election-1.4111768|publisher=CBC News|first=Justin |last=McElroy |date=2017-05-12|accessdate=2024-11-02}}{{cite news|title=UPDATED: Ma claims North Vancouver-Lonsdale for the NDP |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/updated-ma-claims-north-vancouver-lonsdale-for-the-ndp-3051639|publisher=North Shore News|first=Jane|last=Seyd|date=2017-05-09|accessdate=2024-11-02}} After finishing her term as MLA, Yamamoto became president of the BC Earthquake Alliance.{{cite web|title=Naomi Yamamoto - BC Earthquake Alliance |url=https://dev.bcearthquakealliance.ca/our-team/naomi-yamamoto/|publisher=BC Earthquake Alliance|accessdate=2024-11-02}}

{{British Columbia provincial election, 2017/North Vancouver-Lonsdale}}

{{British Columbia provincial election, 2013/North Vancouver-Lonsdale}}

{{Election FPTP begin | title=B.C. General Election 2009: North Vancouver-Lonsdale}}

|-

{{CANelec |BC |Liberal |Naomi Yamamoto |10,323 |49 | |$108,381}}

{{CANelec|BC|NDP|Janice Harris|7,789|37||$86,306}}

{{CANelec |BC |Green |Michelle Corcos |1,791 |9 |– |$1,555}}

{{CANelec|BC|Conservative|Ian McLeod|862|4||$250}}

{{CANelec |BC |Reform |Ron Gamble |232 |1 | |$1,491}}

|- bgcolor="white"

!align="right" colspan=3|Total Valid Votes

!align="right"|20,997

!align="right"|100

!align="right"|

!align="right"|

|- bgcolor="white"

!align="right" colspan=3|Total Rejected Ballots

!align="right"|163

!align="right"|0.8

!align="right"|

!align="right"|

|- bgcolor="white"

!align="right" colspan=3|Turnout

!align="right"|21,160

!align="right"|56

!align="right"|

!align="right"|

|}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/yamamoton.htm Legislative Assembly of British Columbia] - Naomi Yamamoto
• [http://www.naomiyamamotomla.bc.ca/ Member of the Legislative Assembly] - Naomi Yamamoto (North Vancouver-Lonsdale)
• [http://www.naomiyamamoto.com/ British Columbia Liberal Party] - Naomi Yamamoto

{{Christy Clark Ministry}}

{{Gordon Campbell Ministry}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yamamoto, Naomi}}

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:BC United MLAs

Category:Canadian people of Japanese descent

Category:Capilano University

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia

Category:People from North Vancouver

Category:Politicians from Vancouver

Category:University of British Columbia Faculty of Arts alumni

Category:Women government ministers of Canada

Category:Women MLAs in British Columbia

Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians

Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia