Rich Coleman

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Rich Coleman 2016.jpg

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Rich Coleman

| honorific-suffix =

| office = Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia

| term_start = August 4, 2017

| term_end = February 3, 2018

| predecessor = Christy Clark

| successor = Andrew Wilkinson

| office1 = 13th Deputy Premier of British Columbia

| premier1 = Christy Clark

| term_start1 = September 5, 2012

| term_end1 = July 18, 2017

| predecessor1 = Kevin Falcon

| successor1 = Carole James

| assembly2 = British Columbia Legislative

| constituency_AM2 = Langley East
Fort Langley-Aldergrove (1996-2017)

| term_start2 = May 28, 1996

| term_end2 = November 24, 2020

| predecessor2 = Gary Farrell-Collins

| successor2 = Megan Dykeman

| office3 = Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General of British Columbia

| premier3 = Gordon Campbell

| term_start3 = June 5, 2001

| term_end3 = June 16, 2005

| predecessor3 = Ivan Messmer

| successor3 = John Les

| premier4 = Gordon Campbell

| term_start4 = April 27, 2009

| term_end4 = June 10, 2009

| predecessor4 = John van Dongen

| successor4 = Kash Heed

| premier5 = Gordon Campbell

| term_start5 = October 25, 2010

| term_end5 = March 14, 2011

| predecessor5 = Mike de Jong

| successor5 = Shirley Bond

| office6 = Minister of Forests and Range of British Columbia

| premier6 = Gordon Campbell

| term_start6 = June 16, 2005

| term_end6 = June 23, 2008

| predecessor6 = Mike de Jong (Forests)

| successor6 = Pat Bell

| office7 = Minister of Housing and Social Development of British Columbia

| premier7 = Gordon Campbell

| term_start7 = June 23, 2008

| term_end7 = October 25, 2010

| predecessor7 =

| successor7 = Kevin Krueger

| office8 = Minister of Energy and Mines of British Columbia
{{small|Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas (2012-2013)}}

| premier8 = Christy Clark

| term_start8 = March 14, 2011

| term_end8 = June 10, 2013

| predecessor8 = Steve Thomson

| successor8 = Bill Bennett

| premier9 = Christy Clark

| term_start9 = June 12, 2017

| term_end9 = July 18, 2017

| predecessor9 = Bill Bennett

| successor9 = Michelle Mungall (Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources)

| office10 = Minister of Natural Gas Development of British Columbia

| premier10 = Christy Clark

| term_start10 = June 10, 2013

| term_end10 = June 12, 2017

| predecessor10 = position established

| successor10 = Ellis Ross

| office11 = Leader of the BC Liberal Party (interim)

| term_start11 = August 4, 2017

| term_end11 = February 3, 2018

| predecessor11 = Christy Clark

| successor11 = Andrew Wilkinson

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Nelson, British Columbia, Canada

| residence = Township of Langley, British Columbia{{Cite news|url=https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/news/in-the-langley-township-mayoralty-race-rich-coleman-2569311|title=In the Langley Township Mayoralty Race: Rich Coleman|publisher=Langley Advance Times|date=2022-10-07|accessdate=2023-12-06}}

| party = Elevate Langley
BC Liberal

| spouse = Michele Coleman

}}

Richard Thomas Coleman is a Canadian politician and former police officer who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in British Columbia, representing Fort Langley-Aldergrove from 1996 to 2017, and Langley East from 2017 to 2020. As part of the British Columbia Liberal Party caucus, he served in several cabinet posts under Premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, including as the 13th Deputy Premier of British Columbia from 2012 to 2017. He was also the party's interim leader and Leader of Opposition in British Columbia between 2017 and 2018.

Early life

Coleman was born in Nelson as the third of six siblings.{{Cite web|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2008/01/14/TreeFarmDeal/|title=Forest Minister's Brother High in Firm Granted Tree Farm Deal|first=Andrew|last=MacLeod|publisher=The Tyee|date=14 January 2008|accessdate=2023-12-06}} His father was a civil servant and his mother Rosa Coleman was a school English teacher.{{cite web |url=http://richcolemanmla.bc.ca/about/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409151036/http://richcolemanmla.bc.ca/about/ |archive-date=9 April 2012 |title=About Rich Coleman {{!}} {{!}} MLA Rich Coleman}} He moved to Penticton with his family in 1957,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/mla-rich-colemans-mother-passes-away-at-93/|title = MLA Rich Coleman's mother passes away at 93|first=Frank |last=Bucholtz |publisher=Penticton Western News|date = 17 July 2013|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209064220/https://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/mla-rich-colemans-mother-passes-away-at-93/ |archive-date=2018-02-09 }} and graduated from Penticton Secondary School in 1971.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sd67.bc.ca/walloffame.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221150149/http://sd67.bc.ca/walloffame.asp|url-status=dead|title=School District 67|archive-date=21 February 2009|access-date=28 June 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Coleman, Hon. Rich (Fort Langley-Aldergrove) Minister Of Public Safety And Solicitor General |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/coleman-hon-rich-fort-langley-aldergrove-minister-public-safety-and-solicitor-general |publisher=Canadian Parliamentary Guide |accessdate=2023-12-06}} He is married to Michele Coleman, with whom he has two children.

Before entering politics, Coleman was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and ran a real estate management business.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2005-2009/2005OTP0071-000583-Attachment4.htm|title = Executive Council Biographies|website=Archive.news.bc.ca|date = 16 June 2005}}'For me, it's zero tolerance': Back in his days as a Mountie, Solicitor-General Rich Coleman saw his share of carnage on the roads -- and it makes him all the more determined to stamp out street racing and save lives. He's already come down hard on B.C.'s high-horsepower hotheads, and even tougher laws are on the way: [Final Edition] Smyth, Michael. The Province [Vancouver, B.C] 02 June 2002: A14.

Politics

As a candidate with the British Columbia Liberal Party, Coleman was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 1996 to represent Fort Langley-Aldergrove, and was re-elected in that riding in 2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/41st-parliament/Coleman-Rich |title=41st Parliament Members at dissolution on September 21, 2020: Rich Coleman |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |access-date=2023-12-06}} During his first term from 1996 to 2001, Coleman served as opposition housing critic, forests deputy critic and caucus whip, and was a member of the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Crime. With the Liberals gaining power in 2001, he was named to the cabinet by Premier Gordon Campbell as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.{{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=2023-12-06}}

After winning re-election in 2005, he was re-assigned Minister of Forests and Range, and Minister Responsible for Housing. He approved in January 2007 the removal of 28,283 hectares (approx. 70,000 acres) of private land from three coastal tree farm licences along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, and transferred ownership of these lands in totality to Western Forest Products.{{Cite web|title=PRIVATE LAND REMOVED FROM TREE FARM LICENCES|url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2005-2009/2007FOR0005-000074.htm|date=2007-01-31|website=Archive.news.gov.bc.ca|access-date=2020-05-20}} Minister Coleman announced this decision about eight months after his brother, Stan Coleman, joined Western Forest Products as their manager of strategic planning.

In response to the many concerns and allegations of this land giveaway, the University of Victoria's Environmental Law Centre requested an official investigation by the Auditor-General's Office of British Columbia.{{Cite news|date=November 20, 2007|title=B.C. auditor general to review Vancouver Island land deal|work=CBC|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-auditor-general-to-review-vancouver-island-land-deal-1.664078|access-date=May 20, 2020}} On July 1, 2008, BC Auditor-General John Doyle released his report, "Removing Private Land from Tree Farm Licences 6, 19 & 25: Protecting the Public Interest?"{{Cite web|title=Removing Private Land from Tree Farm Licences 6, 19 & 25: Protecting the Public Interest? {{!}} Auditor General of British Columbia|url=https://www.bcauditor.com/pubs/2008/report5/removing-private-land-tree-farm-licences|website=Bcauditor.com|access-date=2020-05-20}} In his report he "condemned former forests minister Rich Coleman for allowing a forestry company to remove land from three tree farm licences for residential development, citing the possibilities of conflicts of interest and insider trading by government staff."{{Cite news|date=July 16, 2008|title=Auditor general's report slams sale of forestry lands|website=Cbc.ca|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/auditor-general-s-report-slams-sale-of-forestry-lands-1.725266|access-date=May 20, 2020}}

As Minister of Housing and Social Development from 2008 to 2010, Rich Coleman presided over those years when offshore foreign investment in BC real estate was a growing public concern, amidst a growing housing crisis. As late as July 2015, he refused to comply with repeated requests for relevant data and analysis: “We’ve worked with the real estate guys for years and have got data on sales,” Coleman said. Asked twice why not at least share the data, he redirected the topic to dangers of restricting foreign investment, claiming that “throws an ethnic group out there and says they’re the problem.”{{Cite news|last=Ball|first=David|date=July 16, 2015|title=What Vancouverites Don't Know Is Hurting Our Housing Hopes|work=The Tyee|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2015/07/16/Vancouver-Housing-Hopes/|access-date=May 20, 2020}} By August 2016, with a year leading up to the next provincial election (May 2017), "the B.C. government moved so quickly to institute its new tax on foreign buyers that it never finished a promised study into the impact of foreign ownership on housing affordability."{{Cite web|title=Incomplete government study on foreign buyers now a waste of money: Opposition|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/incomplete-government-study-on-foreign-buyers-now-a-waste-of-money-opposition/|website=vancouversun.com|access-date=2020-05-20}}

Coleman briefly resumed the role of Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General in April 2009 following the resignation of John van Dongen, until Kash Heed took over the post that June. During that time, Coleman was the minister responsible{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Sam |title=B.C. disbanded RCMP unit after report warned possible crime figure bought stake in casino |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6403415/organized-crime-bc-casinos-rcmp-report/ |access-date=22 January 2020 |work=Global News |date=15 January 2020 |quote=The minister responsible for reviewing the January 2009 RCMP report and the decision to disband IIGET, former B.C. solicitor general Rich Coleman, has stated the unit was ineffective.}}{{cite news |last1=Ball |first1=David P. |title=How the laundering of 'dirty money' in B.C. casinos was exposed |url=https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2018/07/01/how-the-laundering-of-dirty-money-in-bc-casinos-was-exposed.html |access-date=22 January 2020 |work=The Star |date=1 July 2018 |quote=In 2009, Coleman — a former RCMP officer himself — oversaw the elimination of the only independent, dedicated gambling crime police unit, the integrated illegal gaming enforcement team (IIGET).}} for the April 2009 shutdown of an RCMP task force on illegal gambling, three months after it warned that organized crime was involved in both legal and illegal gaming activities in BC.{{cite news |last1=Holman |first1=Sean |title=B.C. warned of organized crime's reach into gambling |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-warned-of-organized-crimes-reach-into-gambling/article1368787/ |access-date=22 January 2020 |work=The Globe and Mail |date=6 August 2010}} Internal government records were later released suggesting that the task force was disbanded due to "funding pressure ... and perceived ineffectiveness."{{cite news |last1=Cooper |first1=Sam |title=Illegal gaming unit killed in 2009 due to BCLC 'funding pressure' |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/illegal-gaming-unit-killed-in-2009-due-to-bclc-funding-pressure |access-date=22 January 2020 |work=Vancouver Sun |date=24 October 2017}} Coleman has said that the team was shut down because "it wasn't effective."{{cite news |last1=Zussman |first1=Richard |title=Rich Coleman says BC Liberals did 'everything we could' to crack down on casino money laundering |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4315391/rich-coleman-says-bc-liberals-did-everything-we-could-to-crack-down-on-casino-money-laundering/ |access-date=22 January 2020 |work=Global News |date=5 July 2018}} In early 2020 new revelations came to light regarding the extent and criminality of this episode of money laundering in BC. Rich Coleman "was repeatedly asked to respond in an interview to the allegations in this story" but refused, agreeing by statement only to cooperate with any future inquiry.{{Cite web|title=B.C. disbanded RCMP unit after report warned possible crime figure bought stake in casino|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6403415/organized-crime-bc-casinos-rcmp-report/|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20}} Coleman once more returned as Solicitor General in October 2010 following a cabinet shuffle.{{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|access-date=2023-12-06}}

On December 1, 2010, Coleman announced to the media he had decided not to enter the provincial Liberal leadership race to replace the outgoing Gordon Campbell. Coleman indicated he had planned to announce his run the following day, had MLA support and campaign funds, but decided not to pursue the post due to family reasons.{{cite news |last=MacLeod |first=Andrew |date=December 1, 2010 |title=Coleman declines to run for BC Liberal leadership |url=https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Election-Central/2010/12/01/ColemanDeclined/ |work=The Tyee |location= |access-date=January 9, 2024}}{{cite news |author= |date=December 1, 2010 |title=Rich Coleman not entering B.C. Liberal race |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rich-coleman-not-entering-b-c-liberal-race-1.954272 |work=CBC News |location= |access-date=January 9, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/mike-de-jong-joins-b-c-liberal-leadership-race-1.581209?cache=gszlebujvvuylyge%3FclipId%3D1930113|title=Mike de Jong joins B.C. Liberal leadership race|publisher=CTV News|agency=The Canadian Press|date=2010-12-01|access-date=2023-12-06}} He was considered a frontrunner in the race.{{Cite news|url=http://www.vancouversun.com/news/politics/b-c-deputy-premier-rich-coleman-decides-to-run-for-re-election/amp|title = B.C. deputy premier Rich Coleman decides to run for re-election|first=Rob |last=Shaw |newspaper=Vancouver Sun|date = 2016-09-11|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916054347/http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/b-c-deputy-premier-rich-coleman-decides-to-run-for-re-election |archive-date=2016-09-16 }} He instead supported Kevin Falcon,{{cite news|url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/rich-coleman-backs-falcon-for-premier-1.588855?cache=yesclipId104062|title=Rich Coleman backs Falcon for premier|publisher=CTV News|date=2010-12-22|access-date=2023-12-06}} who placed second in the leadership election behind Christy Clark.

Coleman was named Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Housing in March 2011, as part of Clark's initial cabinet.{{cite web|title=Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/christyclarkcabinet.pdf |publisher=Legislative Library of British Columbia |date=2018-01-24 |access-date=2023-11-28}}{{cite news |date=March 14, 2011 |title=B.C. Premier Christy Clark sworn in, unveils cabinet |newspaper=CTV News |url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/b-c-premier-christy-clark-sworn-in-unveils-cabinet-1.618473 |url-status=live |access-date=February 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903112742/http://www.ctvnews.ca/b-c-premier-christy-clark-sworn-in-unveils-cabinet-1.618473 |archive-date=September 3, 2014}} He became deputy premier in September 2012 following the resignation of Kevin Falcon, and continued in the re-titled post of Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas. Following his re-election in 2013, he was named to the newly established position of Minister of Natural Gas Development, and stayed on as deputy premier.

He was re-elected in the 2017 election in the new riding of Langley East, and returned to the cabinet as deputy premier and Minister of Energy and Mines.{{cite news |date=2017-06-12 |title=B.C. Premier Christy Clark and cabinet sworn in |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/liberal-cabinet-picks-1.4157148 |access-date=2023-11-28 |publisher=CBC News}} He finished his term in both roles that July, following the Liberal minority government's defeat in a confidence vote on June 29.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-liberals-fall-non-confidence-1.4185005|title=B.C. Liberal government loses confidence vote 44-42, sparking either NDP government or election|date=June 29, 2017 | access-date=September 23, 2020 |publisher=CBC News}} With Christy Clark resigning as leader of the Liberal Party, Coleman stated he did not intend to run for the position, and was named interim party leader and Leader of the Opposition on August 4, 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/christy-clark-resigns-as-leader-of-b-c-liberal-party|title = Christy Clark resigns as MLA and leader of B.C. Liberal party, Rich Coleman to serve as interim|newspaper=Vancouver Sun}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/christy-clark-resigns-as-leader-of-b-c-liberal-party-1.4226286|title=Christy Clark resigns as leader of B.C. Liberal Party |publisher=CBC News |first=Michelle |last=Ghoussoub |date=2017-07-28 |accessdate=2023-12-06 }} He served in those roles until Andrew Wilkinson was elected new Liberal leader in February 2018, and announced in February 2020 that he would not seek re-election in the next provincial election.{{cite news |title=Rich Coleman, B.C. MLA and former cabinet minister, announces he won't seek re-election |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rich-coleman-retires-1.5481241 |access-date=2023-12-06 |publisher=CBC News |date=29 February 2020}}

Coleman is considered one of the best fundraisers and organizers for the BC Liberals.

In June 2022 the Cullen Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia final report stated: "By 2010, then-minister responsible for gaming Rich Coleman was aware of the concerns of the GPEB investigation division and law enforcement that the province's casinos were being used to launder the proceeds of crime... more could have been done by Mr. Coleman... who served in that role for extended periods during the evolution of this crisis.{{cite web|url=https://cullencommission.ca/files/reports/CullenCommission-FinalReport-ExecutiveSummary.pdf|title=Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia : Executive summary|website=Cullencommission.ca|access-date=June 28, 2022}}

A poll conducted by Research Co. in June 2022 found that 66% of British Columbians believed it is true that Coleman knowingly ignored warnings about suspected drug money laundering in casinos.{{cite news |title=British Columbians Would Appoint Anti-Corruption Commissioner |url=https://researchco.ca/2022/06/24/cullen-commission/ |access-date=24 June 2022 |agency=Research Co. |date=24 June 2022}}

Coleman ran for mayor of Langley Township in 2022 as a candidate with Elevate Langley, finishing a distant third.{{cite news |title=B.C. Votes 2022: Fraser Valley election results for Langley, Chilliwack, Abbotsford and more |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/election-2022-langley-chilliwack-abbotsford-fraser-valley-1.6610565 |access-date=2023-12-06 |publisher=CBC News |date=2022-10-11 }}

Honours

Coleman received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003 and was awarded the Canada 125 Medal for community service. He was the 1988 Langley, British Columbia Volunteer of the Year, and was awarded Rotary's top honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship.{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/40th-Parliament/Coleman-Rich |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829212747/https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/40th-Parliament/Coleman-Rich |archive-date=29 August 2017 |title=Hon. Rich Coleman}}

Coleman was the second person ever awarded Kin Canada (Kinsmen)'s highest honour, the Hal Rogers Fellowship, after Kin founder Harold A. Rogers.