Richard Cannings (British Columbia politician)

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Richard Cannings

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Richard Cannings at convention 2023.jpg

| caption = Cannings in 2023

| riding = South Okanagan—West Kootenay

| parliament = Canadian

| term_start = October 19, 2015

| term_end = March 23, 2025

| predecessor = Alex Atamanenko

| successor = Helena Konanz

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|3|31}}

| birth_place = Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| profession = Biologist, author

| party = New Democratic

| residence = Penticton, British Columbia{{cite web|url=https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2019app/51/table12E.html|title=Official Voting Results|publisher=Elections Canada|access-date=January 23, 2021}}

| footnotes =

| spouse =

| children =

| website = {{URL|http://richardcannings.ndp.ca}}}}

Richard J. "Dick" Cannings (born March 31, 1954) is a Canadian biologist, author and politician. He was elected as the South Okanagan—West Kootenay Member of Parliament in the 2015 Canadian federal election for the New Democratic Party, and re-elected in 2019 and 2021. He did not run for re-election in 2025. As a member of the 42nd Canadian Parliament he sponsored three private member's bills: one to promote the use of wood in federal public works projects, one to add various lakes and rivers to Navigable Waters Protection Act, and another to a Minister of Environment to respond to a Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada report. Cannings was appointed the NDP Critic for Post-Secondary Education as well as the Deputy Critic for Natural Resources in the 42nd Canadian Parliament.{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-critics-list-mulcair-thursday-1.3315431 | title=Tom Mulcair taps Nathan Cullen, Charlie Angus, Guy Caron for top critic roles | publisher=The Canadian Press | work=CBC News | date=12 November 2015 | access-date=12 November 2015 | author=Kirkup, Kristy}} He became the NDP Critic for Natural Resources in 2016 and served in that position until 2021. In October 2021, he became the NDP Critic for Emergency Preparedness (Climate Adaptation) and Critic for Small Business and Tourism, as well as Deputy Critic for Natural Resources and Deputy Critic for Innovation, Science and Industry. In December 2021, he was named an inaugural member of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Science and Research.

Prior to being elected as a member of parliament, Cannings unsuccessfully sought election as a member of the legislative assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 BC election. Prior to his involvement in politics, Cannings worked as a biologist specializing in birds, taught at the University of British Columbia for 17 years, wrote numerous books about birds and natural history, and was a member of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada for 8 years. He is an alumnus of Memorial University of Newfoundland and the University of British Columbia.

Career

Like their father, renowned environmentalist Stephen Cannings, Richard and his twin brother Sydney and their older brother, Rob, were born and raised in Penticton and all pursued careers in biology.{{cite web |url=http://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_3a123a22-70ee-11e7-96e9-d7ebca5c588f.html |publisher=Penticton Herald |title=Stephen Cannings was one of the South Okanagan's greatest environmentalists |date= July 24, 2017 |access-date=July 27, 2019 |first=Joyce |last=Langerak}} Richard earned a master's degree in zoology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He taught for 17 years at University of British Columbia before returning to Penticton in 1995 to work as a consulting biologist, including doing work for the non-profit Bird Studies Canada. He spent 8 years on the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada as co-chair for Birds, 11 years on B.C. Environmental Appeal Board and five on the B.C. Forest Appeals Commission.{{cite news |title=Fresh face aims to enlighten them with science |last=Bitonti |first=Daniel |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=May 2, 2013 |page=S3}} He was a board member of the Nature Conservancy of Canada from 2006 to 2015.

Cannings authored or contributed to numerous books. In 1987 he co-authored with his brothers Birds of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia which was published by the Royal British Columbia Museum.{{cite book |title=Birds of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia |first1= Robert A |last1=Cannings |first2=Richard J |last2=Cannings |first3=Sydney G |last3=Cannings |publisher=Royal British Columbia Museum |location=Victoria, British Columbia |year=1987 |isbn=9780771886010}} Based on previous work, he co-authored Birds of Southwestern British Columbia{{cite book |title=Birds of Southwestern British Columbia |first1= Richard |last1=Cannings |first2=Hal |last2=Opperman |first3=Tom |last3=Aversa |publisher=Heritage House Publishing |location=Victoria, British Columbia |year=2005 |isbn=9781894974592}} and Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies{{cite book |title=Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies |first1= Richard |last1=Cannings |first2=Harry B. |last2=Nehls|first3=Dave |last3=Trochlell |first4=Mike |last4=Denny |publisher=Heritage House Publishing |location=Victoria, British Columbia |year=2009 |isbn=9781894974592}} In 2007 Greystone Books published a memoir style book of essays by Cannings titled An Enchantment of Birds: Memories From A Birder's Life{{cite news |title=A Birder's Life: The Wonder of it All |newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator |location= Hamilton, Ontario |date=December 1, 2007 |page=D14}} and in 2010 Greystone published a book of essays, titled Flights of Imagination: Extraordinary Writing about Birds, edited by Cannings.{{cite news |title=Cheep thrills Books for bird-watchers |last=Boodman |first= Eric |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |location= Ottawa, Ontario |date=May 23, 2010 |page=A8}} Co-authored with his son Russell, Cannings contributed to Birdfinding in British Columbia and Best Places to Bird in British Columbia, both also published by Greystone.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/best-birdwatching-1.4113785 |title=New book reveals best places for B.C. birdwatching |first1=Bridgette |last1=Watson |date=May 14, 2017 |access-date=July 30, 2019 |publisher= CBC News}}

Politics

At 58 years old, Cannings entered politics in 2012 seeking the British Columbia New Democratic Party nomination in Penticton. Cannings won the nomination over Summerland councillor David Finnis.{{cite news |title= NDP will nominate Penticton candidate on Sunday |newspaper=Penticton Western News |location=Penticton, BC |date=November 15, 2012 |page=8}} However, in the 2013 election, Cannings lost to Penticton mayor Dan Ashton of the BC Liberal Party, which went on to form a majority government with the BC NDP as the official opposition.

Cannings continued with politics by seeking the federal NDP nomination in South Okanagan—West Kootenay. He won the nomination over Margaret Maximenko of Christina Lake.{{cite news |title=Penticton candidate seeks NDP role |newspaper=Trail Times |location=Trail, British Columbia |date=January 15, 2014 |page=A3}} In the 2015 election, Cannings won the riding with 37% of the vote.{{cite news |last=Fries |first=Joe |date=October 17, 2019 |title=NDP Leader Singh returning to Penticton |url=https://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_9828b9e2-f0fd-11e9-8362-4fc4b53ed383.html |work=Penticton Herald |location=Penticton, British Columbia |access-date=December 4, 2023}} Nationally, the NDP placed third with the Liberal Party forming a majority government.{{cite news |last=Blackwell |first=Tom |date=October 20, 2015 |title=Canadian election 2015 hands Justin Trudeau and the Liberals a majority government |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/canadian-election-2015-liberals-jump-to-early-lead-as-polls-close-in-newfoundland-and-labrador |work=National Post |location= |access-date=December 4, 2023}}

During ensuing 42nd Parliament Cannings was appointed by NDP leader Thomas Mulcair as their critic on post-secondary education issues and deputy critic of natural resources under Carol Hughes.{{cite news |title=Cannings officially sworn in at the Hill |last=Boyd |first= Dale |newspaper=Penticton Western News |location=Penticton, BC |date=November 26, 2015}} He became critic of natural resources in 2016 when Carol Hughes was named Assistant Deputy Speaker, and he served the entire Parliament on the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. Cannings sponsored three private member bills. On April 13, 2017, he introduced Bill C-354 which would amend the Public Works and Government Services Act which would promote the use of wood in federal public works projects. Similar bills had previously been introduced by Claude Patry and Gérard Asselin in the 41st and 40th Parliaments, respectively. The bill was passed by the House of Commons with support from all parties except the Conservative Party but was blocked from proceeding in the Senate by the Conservatives.{{cite news |title=Richard Cannings: How my private member's bill died in the Senate |last=Nesteroff |first=Greg |newspaper=Castlegar News |location=Castlegar, British Columbia |date=July 6, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/dozens-of-bills-including-on-sexual-assault-and-undrip-die-in-senate-amid-conservative-filibuster |title=Dozens of bills, including on sexual assault and UNDRIP, die in Senate amid Conservative filibuster |newspaper=National Post |date=June 20, 2019 |access-date=July 27, 2019 |first=Marie-Danielle |last=Smith}} In response to the previous parliament's Jobs and Growth Act, Cannings second private member bill, Bill C-360, sought to re-insert several lakes and rivers such as Skaha Lake, Vaseux Lake, Tuc-el-nuit Lake, Osoyoos Lake, Christina Lake, Okanagan River, Slocan River, Kettle River, and Granby River back into the Navigable Waters Protection Act.{{cite web |url=https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-360/first-reading |title=Bill C-360 An Act to amend the Navigation Protection Act (certain lakes and rivers in British Columbia) |access-date=July 28, 2019 |date=April 14, 2017 |publisher=Parliament of Canada}} However, Bill C-360 did not advance past first reading as the government bill C-69 was amending the same act to re-define what water bodies and watercourses are deemed to be reviewable as navigable waters. He introduced his third private member bill, Bill C-363,{{cite web |url=https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-363/first-reading |title=Bill C-363 An Act to amend the Species at Risk Act (amendment of the List) |access-date=July 31, 2019 |date=September 22, 2017 |publisher=Parliament of Canada}} on September 22, 2017, as a response to the practice used by the Ministers of Environment in the 28th Canadian Ministry between 2011 and 2015 of avoiding listing species in the Species at risk Public Registry by not notifying the Governor in Council of reports received from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Though Bill C-363, which would require the Minister notify the Governor in Council and recommend to list a species or not, did not advance but it was adopted as a Ministry of Environment operational policy.{{cite web |url=https://thenarwhal.ca/it-just-takes-too-damn-long-how-canadas-law-for-protecting-at-risk-species-is-failing/ |publisher=The Narwhal |title='It just takes too damn long': How Canada's law for protecting at-risk species is failing |first=Larry |last=Pinn |date=April 18, 2019 |access-date=July 31, 2019}}{{cite news |title=Returning Species at Risk Act to original intent |last=Cannings |first=Richard |newspaper=Trail Times |location=Trail, British Columbia |date=September 27, 2017 |page=A6}}

In the 2019 Canadian federal election, Cannings was narrowly re-elected over the second-place Conservative, Penticton city councillor Helena Konanz.{{cite web|url= https://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/konanz-issues-challenge-to-south-okanagan-west-kootenay-candidates/ |title=Konanz issues challenge to South Okanagan-West Kootenay candidates |date=July 30, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |publisher=Penticton Western News |first= Kristi |last=Patton}}{{cite web|url= http://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_9e26a7f8-f492-11e9-87b1-37ace612dab9.html|title= ELECTION 2019: Cannings preserves seat}} He was again re-elected in the 2021 federal election.{{cite news |last=Potenteau |first=Doyle |date=September 12, 2023 |title=Okanagan politician Richard Cannings not seeking federal re-election in 2025 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9956111/richard-cannings-not-seeking-federal-re-election/ |work=Global News |location= |access-date=December 4, 2023}}

In September 2023, Cannings announced he would not be seeking re-election in the next federal election.{{cite news |last=Fries|first=Joe |date=September 12, 2023 |title=MP Cannings won't run again |url=https://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_4185cf98-519e-11ee-92fc-cffcf6976c79.html |work=Penticton Herald |location= |access-date=December 4, 2023}}

Electoral record

=Federal=

=Provincial=

Publications

Birds of the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia - 1987{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/birds-of-the-okanagan-valley/|title = Birds of the Okanagan Valley|date = 28 May 2011}}
Birds of Southwestern British Columbia - 2005{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/birds-of-southwestern-british-columbia/|title=Birds of Southwestern British Columbia|date=27 May 2011}}
The Rockies: A Natural History - 2005{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/the-rockies-a-natural-history/|title=The Rockies: A Natural History|date=27 May 2011}}
An Enchantment of Birds - 2007{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/an-enchantment-of-birds/|title=An Enchantment of Birds|date=27 May 2011}}
Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies - 2009{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/birds-of-bc-interior-and-the-rockies/|title = Birds of BC Interior and the Rockies|date = 27 May 2011}}
Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan - 2009{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/roadside-nature-tours-through-the-okanagan-valley/|title = Roadside Nature Tours through the Okanagan Valley|date = 28 May 2011}}
Flights of Imagination - 2010{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/flights-of-imagination/|title = Flights of Imagination|date = 27 May 2011}}
Geology of British Columbia: A Journey Through Time - 2011{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/geology-of-british-columbia/|title = Geology of British Columbia|date = 28 May 2011}}
Birdfinding in British Columbia - 2013{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/birdfinding-in-british-columbia/|title = Birdfinding in British Columbia|date = 6 June 2013}}
The New BC Roadside Naturalist - 2014{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/bc-roadside-naturalist/|title = The New BC Roadside Naturalist|date = 27 May 2011}}
British Columbia: A Natural History - 2015{{cite web|url=http://dickcannings.com/my-books/british-columbia-a-natural-history/|title = British Columbia: A Natural History|date = 27 May 2011}}
Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest - 2016{{cite web |url=https://dickcannings.com/my-books/%20birds-of-british-columbia-and-the-pacific-northwest/ |title=Birds of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest | Dick Cannings: Birds and Books |publisher=Dick Cannings |date= |accessdate=2022-07-18}}

References

External links

[http://richardcannings.ndp.ca NDP - Richard Cannings]
{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=18446}}

Category:Living people

Category:1954 births

Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party candidates in British Columbia provincial elections

Category:Canadian naturalists

Category:Canadian nature writers

Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia

Category:New Democratic Party MPs

Category:20th-century Canadian non-fiction writers

Category:20th-century Canadian male writers

Category:21st-century Canadian non-fiction writers

Category:People from Penticton

Category:Memorial University of Newfoundland alumni

Category:University of British Columbia alumni

Category:Canadian male non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada