Spencer Chandra Herbert

Spencer Chandra Herbert
MLA for Vancouver-West End
Assumed office
2009
Preceded by first member
MLA for Vancouver-Burrard
In office
2008–2009
Preceded by Lorne Mayencourt
Succeeded by riding dissolved
Vancouver Parks Board Commissioner
In office
2005–2008
Personal details
Born (1981-05-15) May 15, 1981
Vancouver, British Columbia
Political party

COPE (municipal)

New Democratic Party (provincial)
Spouse(s) Romi Chandra Herbert
Residence Vancouver, British Columbia
Occupation Arts manager

Spencer Chandra Herbert is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Representing the British Columbia New Democratic Party, he won the October 29, 2008, by-election in the electoral district of Vancouver-Burrard. He was re-elected to the Legislature, this time in the newly created riding of Vancouver-West End in the May 13, 2009 general election. Chandra Herbert's BC NDP formed the Official Opposition in both the 38th and 39th Parliaments and he was assigned to be the party's critic on tourism, arts and culture. He has introduced several pieces of legislation as private members' bills, though none have been adopted. The Long Term Tenants Protection Act, and his more comprehensive Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, were meant to address evictions and high rent increases that were occurring in the West End. He also introduced the Consumer Protection in Ticket Sales Act, 2009 which would have made ticket scalping illegal and the Gender Identity and Expression Human Rights Recognition Act which would have included gender identity and gender expression into the BC Human Rights Code as characteristic protected from discrimination. He entered the 38th Parliament at age 27, as its youngest Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) and remained the youngest throughout the 39th Parliament.

Prior to becoming a MLA, he was elected to the Vancouver Parks Board. He served as a Parks Commissioner between 2005 and 2008 and was then a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors. On the Parks Board he voted against removing the requirement for a referendum on an expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium but later voted in favour of the expansion. He advocate for bicycle valet service at large public events, investigating environmentally friendly means of disposing of animal waste, and implementing a zero-net-loss of greenspace policy.

He is openly gay and married his partner, Romi Chandra, in March 2010. Afterwards, he legally changed his name to Spencer Chandra Herbert. Both Spencer and Romi have been active supporting causes within the LGBT community. At the provincial level, Chandra Herbert has advocated for a community victim services worker in Davie Village, a specialized telephone line for people to call to report incidents involving gay-bashing or verbal and physical assaults, and for school boards to include LGBT issues, especially in anti-bullying lessons.

Background

Born and raised in Vancouver, Herbert attended Prince of Wales Mini School and graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He has worked in various jobs in the entertainment and culture industry, such as being a manager of a dance company,[1] and a worker at the Roundhouse Community Centre.[2] He worked as a producer of the United Nations World Urban Forum Arts and Culture Festival,[3] and been involved with the Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the GLBT Centre.[1] He has volunteered with Qmunity, the Coal Harbour Residents Association, the West End Residents Association, and the Save St. Paul's Coalition.[1] In 2006, he won a City of Vancouver Youth Award in the "Youth 19 – 24" category.[4]

In the November 2005 municipal elections, Herbert was a COPE nominee for the Vancouver Park Board. The 24-year-old Hebert was one of two COPE nominees to be elected, with the NPA taking the five other seats.[5] On the Board, Herbert resisted using the park funds to pay for Olympic-related projects.[6] Herbert and fellow COPE board member Loretta Woodcock, resisted the Board decision to eliminate the culture and recreation committee by continuing the committee by themselves.[7] Herbert voted with the board in opposing a proposal to bring animatronic dinosaurs to Stanley Park.[8][9] Following the December 2006 windstorm that hit Stanley Park, Herbert held the first fundraiser assist rehabilitation and enlisted local wood-turners and wood-workers in salvaging trees.[1][10] In response to homeless people camping in public parks, Herbert suggested that the city open regulated tent cities, which was quickly rejected by the mayor.[11][12]

On the Vancouver Aquarium, Herbert voted against removing the policy requiring a referendum to approve an expansion[13] but ultimately voted in favour of the $80-million expansion after the board agreed to distribute 23,000 free passes to low-income people.[14] To address the loss of greenspace to new construction, he proposed a zero-net-loss of greenspace policy but it was rejected by the Board.[15][16] The NPA-dominated Board also rejected Herbert's initiatives regarding investigating environmentally friendly means to dispose of dog feces at parks[17] and to have a bicycle valet service at public events (like what was being done at Vancouver Canadians baseball games).[18][19] Herbert was successful in having the board direct its food concessionaires to serve only seafood that was Ocean Wise endorsed,[20] though he was alone in voting against extending concessionairy leases from one year to ten.[21] In February 2008, the local newspaper WestEnder named Herbert Unsung Hero of Vancouver of the year.[4]

Provincial politics

38th Parliament

After Lorne Mayencourt announced his resignation as MLA, Herbert announced in May 2008 that he would seek the NDP nomination to run in the by-election.[22] Art Griffiths, the former owner of the Vancouver Canucks, announced he would run for the BC Liberals. While Griffiths was considered a star candidate, he lived in Point Grey, outside the riding. Herbert was still thought to be the favourite.[23][24] The October 2008 by-election was also contested by Green Party candidate Drini Read, BC Conservative Ian McLeod, and Marijuana Party leader Marc Emery, but Herbert won with over 50% of the vote. Herbert, at the age of 27, joined the Legislative Assembly on November 20 during the fourth session of the 38th Parliament. He introduced his first bill on November 24, a private members' bill called the Long Term Renters Protection Act, 2008 (Bill M-228). Herbert was active helping renters in the West End was experiencing high profile rises in rent, being approved by the Residential Tenancy Branch.[25] The act sought stop these large rent increases by removing the ability of Residential Tenancy Branch to approve rent increases based on geographic area – BC was the only province in Canada that has this geographic component.[26][27] The bill was only given first reading and was not adopted, but the rent increases were over-turned in court.[28]

Herbert was assigned to be the opposition critic for arts and culture. In this role, he introduced another private members' bill, Consumer Protection in Ticket Sales Act, 2009 (Bill M-202) on March 5, 2009, which would make scalping event admission tickets illegal. The bill was in response to a federal Competition Bureau to probe against Ticketmaster for price-gouging and a class-action lawsuit against Ticketmaster in which British Columbians were not allowed to join due to the lack of such a law.[29][30] Like his previous bill it was only given first reading and not adopted.

39th Parliament

In the May 2009 general provincial election, Herbert was again challenged by Green Party candidate Drini Read, as well as BC Liberal candidate and gay rights advocate Laura McDiarmid.[31] Herbert was again expected to win,[32] which he did again receiving over 50% of the vote, but his party again formed the Official Opposition to the BC Liberal's majority government. As the 39th Parliament began party leader Carole James kept Herbert as the critic of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts.[33] Herbert disapproved of absorption of industry-run Crown Corporation Tourism BC into the ministry.[34] According to Herbert, the government took over Tourism BC in retaliation for speaking against the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax[35] and so it could control messages and gain exposure during the Vancouver Winter Olympics.[36] Herbert went on to criticize the council responsible for the transition of Tourism BC into the government as being dominated (eight of thirteen members) by BC Liberal financial donors.[37] Herbert was also critical of the changes, which began in July 2009[38] and partially restored in March[39] and September 2010, to provincial grant system which distributed proceeds from gambling to non-profit groups involved in arts, culture, sports, and education.[40] Herbert illustrated the impact of the province-wide cuts by contrasting them with the cost overruns from both the Vancouver Convention Centre and the replacement of the BC Place stadium roof.[41]

In June 2010, he brought a motion forward in the legislative assembly to declare the pacific salmon as one of the symbols of British Columbia.[42][43] In July, following the release of a study that identified BC as having the highest number of hate crimes in the country, he called upon the government to operate a telephone "bash line" where people can anonymously report incidents involving gay-bashing or verbal and physical assaults.[44][45] Along with fellow NDP MLA Mable Elmore, he advocated for schools to teach equality for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning in schools.[46]

In March 2010, he married his long-time partner Romi Chandra and legally changed his name to Spencer Chandra Herbert. [47][48][49] The couple initiated the procedure, in October 2010, to adopt a child.[50] With the NDP, during a caucus revolt challenging the leadership of Carole James, Chandra Herbert acted as a liaison between the caucus and party members[51] and supported James.[52] He considered running in the ensuing leadership election[53] but did not enter the race and did not endorse any candidate.

During the second session of the 39th Parliament, Chandra Herbert re-introduced his Long Term Tenants Protection Act, 2010 (Bill M-209). In the third session he introduced a more comprehensive act, the Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, 2011 (Bill M-205), which included giving right of first refusal to existing residents during a strata conversion and giving existing residents the option of returning to renovated apartments at a rent increase no more than would otherwise be lawful.[54] Later the same month he introduced the Gender Identity and Expression Human Rights Recognition Act, 2011 (Bill M-207), which would have included gender identity and gender expression in the definition of sex in the BC Human Rights Code as characteristic protected from discrimination.[55] As private member bills, they all received first reading but none were adopted.

Electoral history

British Columbia general election, 2013: Vancouver-West End
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticSpencer Herbert 10,755 57 $80,612
LiberalScott Harrison 5,349 28 $27,424
GreenJodie Emery 2,156 11 $3,295
LibertarianJohn Clarke 446 2 $250
Non-affiliatedRonald Guillermo Herbert 132 0.7 $361
Work Less PartyMathew David Kagis 94 0.5 $250
Total Valid Votes 18,932100
Total Rejected Ballots 1120.6
Turnout 19,04450.64
British Columbia general election, 2009: Vancouver-West End
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticSpencer Herbert 9,926 57 $65,124
LiberalLaura McDiarmid 5,735 33 $43,941
GreenDrina Read 1,582 9 $2,742
LibertarianJohn Clarke 196 1 $250
SexScarlett Lake 90 0.5 $250
Non-affiliatedMenard D. Caissy 36 0.2 $317
Total Valid Votes 17,565100
Total Rejected Ballots 960.5
Turnout 17,66150
By-election, October 29, 2008: Vancouver-Burrard
Party Candidate Votes % ± Expenditures
     NDP Spencer Herbert 6,998 51 $62,474
LiberalArt Griffiths 5,089 37 $91,934
GreenDrina Read 741 5 – $2,788
ConservativeIan McLeod 599 4 $2,379
MarijuanaMarc Emery 384 3 $1,840
Total Valid Votes 13,811 100
Total Rejected Ballots 26 0.2
Turnout 13,837 23

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fowlie, Jonathan (October 30, 2008). "Spencer Herbert, Vancouver-Burrard". The Vancouver Sun. p. A6. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  2. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (February 1, 2006). "COPE going it alone for arts' sake". Vancouver Courier. p. 16.
  3. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (September 28, 2005). "COPE parks candidate comes out swinging". Vancouver Courier. p. 15.
  4. 1 2 "Unsung Hero Candidate for Mayor Village Idiot Politician Who Should Retire". WestEnder. Vancouver. February 28, 2008. p. 18.
  5. ↑ MacKie, John (November 20, 2005). "NPA takes five seats on Vancouver park board". The Vancouver Sun. p. A4.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (December 14, 2005). "Board okays $50,000 to shed light on Inukshuk". Vancouver Courier. p. 9.
  7. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (February 1, 2006). "COPE going it alone for arts' sake". Vancouver Courier. p. 16.
  8. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (September 28, 2007). "COPE flabbergasted by Jurassic Park proposal". Vancouver Courier. p. 16.
  9. ↑ Montgomery, Christina (October 28, 2007). "Dinosaurs will stay extinct in Stanley Park". The Province. Vancouver. p. A22.
  10. ↑ Ivens, Andy (May 13, 2008). "Fallen city trees to get new life". The Province. p. A11.
  11. ↑ Baron, Ethan (August 8, 2008). "Vancouver tent city proposal shot down". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. D8.
  12. ↑ Herbert, Spencer (August 15, 2008). "Tent cities are not ideal, but who has a better suggestion for now?". The Province. Vancouver. p. A26.
  13. ↑ Mickleburgh, Rod (May 31, 2006). "Public won't get vote on aquarium". The Globe and Mail. p. S1.
  14. ↑ Ward, Doug (November 29, 2006). "Board OKs plan to expand Stanley Park site". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. C6.
  15. ↑ Montgomery, Christina (November 25, 2007). "Save park green space: COPE; Wants to see a 'zero net loss' policy in city". The Province. Vancouver. p. A15.
  16. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (November 28, 2007). "COPE commissioner's greenspace plan dies at parks board meeting". Vancouver Courier. p. 13.
  17. ↑ "Park board defeats motion to find dog feces disposal method". The Vancouver Sun. March 17, 2007. p. B2.
  18. ↑ Montgomery, Christina (June 27, 2007). "Parks board commissioner pushing bike valet service". The Province. Vancouver. p. A22.
  19. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (June 29, 2007). "Parks board kills motion to make the service part of events hosting 2,000 or more people". Vancouver Courier. Vancouver. p. 12.
  20. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (September 22, 2006). "COPE calls for sustainable seafood: Commissioner wants Ocean Wise concessions". Vancouver Courier. p. 19.
  21. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (May 17, 2006). "Sweeping concessions". Vancouver Courier. p. 1.
  22. ↑ Bermingham, John (May 21, 2008). "Griffiths eyes Liberal riding". The Province. Vancouver. p. A11.
  23. ↑ Palmer, Vaughn (May 21, 2008). "Griffiths faces uphill battle as he begins his political career". The Vancouver Sun. p. A3.
  24. ↑ "NDP's Spencer Herbert and Jenn McGinn easy choices in Vancouver by-elections". The Georgia Straight. October 23, 2008. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  25. ↑ Wong, Jackie (March 19, 2009). "The fight for apartment life". Westender. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  26. ↑ Wong, Jackie (November 27, 2008). "New bill aims to protect B.C.'s long-term renters". WestEnder. p. 6.
  27. ↑ Ferry, Jon (January 14, 2009). "The real reason tenants are being turfed". The Province. Vancouver. p. A4.
  28. ↑ Fraser, Keith (January 14, 2010). "West End rent increase 'patently unreasonable,' judge rules; Landlord ordered to refund paid increases". The Province. Vancouver. p. A6.
  29. ↑ O'Brian, A. (February 11, 2009). "Ticket buyers fume over lawsuit exclusion". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  30. ↑ Bermingham, John (March 5, 2009). "People tired of ticket overpricing, says New Democrat". The Province. Vancouver. p. A24.
  31. ↑ Zehr, Garrett (May 6, 2009). "BC's Youngest MLA Goes for Two". The Tyee. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  32. ↑ Hasiuk, Mark (April 15, 2009). "A gambler's guide to the provincial election". Vancouver Courier. p. 7.
  33. ↑ Austin, Ian (June 12, 2009). "NDP shadow cabinet set, ready to rumble". The Province. p. A6.
  34. ↑ Constantineau, Bruce (August 18, 2009). "Tourism BC president, entire board dismissed". The Vancouver Sun. p. A1.
  35. ↑ Chai, Carmen (August 19, 2009). "Tourism B.C. closure is 'retribution,' claims NDP". The Province. Vancouver. p. A22.
  36. ↑ Mickleburgh, Rod (August 19, 2009). "Time was right to take over Tourism BC, minister says". The Globe and Mail. p. A8.
  37. ↑ Duffy, Andrew (November 24, 2009). "Tourism council still raises ire; Minister names 13 people to help transition from Tourism B.C.". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. B1.
  38. ↑ Hansen, Darah (July 23, 2009). "Province slashes wide range of post-secondary funding; $16-million cut from student aid budget, but no announcement". The Vancouver Sun. p. A4.
  39. ↑ Lederman, Marsha (March 3, 2010). "Money restored for the arts not enough, groups say". The Globe and Mail. p. S3.
  40. ↑ Wong, Jackie (September 3, 2009). "MLA Spencer Herbert juggles provincial, municipal issues". WestEnder. Vancouver. p. 6.
  41. ↑ Herbert, Spencer (March 24, 2010). "If not for certain projects, B.C. could fund arts and culture". The Vancouver Sun. p. A10.
  42. ↑ "Make salmon our provincial fish: NDP". The Northern Sentinel. Kitimat, British Columbia. June 7, 2010. p. 1.
  43. ↑ Dhillon, Sunny (September 15, 2011). "Make Pacific salmon B.C.'s official fish, groups urge". The Globe and Mail. p. S3.
  44. ↑ "Gay community troubled by release of killer in Stanley Park death". cbc.ca. February 5, 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  45. ↑ Coyne, Todd (July 27, 2010). "NDP demands B.C. act against gay hate crimes". Times Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. p. A9.
  46. ↑ Cohen, Eva (July 29, 2011). "Schools need to teach about equality for gays, NDP says". The Vancouver Sun. p. A6.
  47. ↑ Burrows, Matthew (March 25, 2010). "NDP MLA Spencer Herbert to marry activist Romi Chandra this weekend". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  48. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (April 2, 2010). "Central Park". Vancouver Courier. p. 10.
  49. ↑ Gotell, Lucy (March 31, 2010). "Gay MLA weds and takes husband's name". Xtra!. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  50. ↑ Barrett, Jessica (October 27, 2010). "The new family plan". WestEnder. Vancouver. p. 8.
  51. ↑ Holman, Sean (November 8, 2010). "Carole James faces growing questions about her leadership". The Globe and Mail. p. S1.
  52. ↑ Thomson, Stephen (December 6, 2010). "Spencer Chandra Herbert says "whole caucus" played role in B.C. NDP infighting". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved December 24, 2011. C1 control character in |title= at position 44 (help)
  53. ↑ Werb, Jessica (December 9, 2010). "NDP's Spencer Chandra Herbert hasn't ruled out a leadership run". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  54. ↑ Thomas, Sandra (May 11, 2011). "Seek ye first". Vancouver Courier. p. 7.
  55. ↑ Hui, Stephen (May 11, 2011). "B.C. NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert introduces transgender rights bill". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
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