Ida Chong

Ida Chong
MLACGA
MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head for BC Liberal
In office
1996–2013
Preceded by Elizabeth Cull
Succeeded by Andrew Weaver
Minister of State for Women’s and Seniors’ Services of British Columbia
In office
January 26, 2004 – December 15, 2004
Premier Gordon Campbell
Succeeded by Wendy McMahon
Minister of Advanced Education of British Columbia
In office
December 15, 2004 – June 16, 2005
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Shirley Bond
Succeeded by Murray Coell
Minister of Community Services of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Murray Coell
Succeeded by Blair Lekstrom
Minister responsible for Seniors' and Women's Issues of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Wendy McMahon
Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development of British Columbia
In office
June 23, 2008 – January 19, 2009
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Colin Hansen
Succeeded by Ida Chong (Technology and Economic Development)
Minister responsible for Asia-Pacific Initiative of British Columbia
In office
June 23, 2008 – June 10, 2009
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Colin Hansen
Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development of British Columbia
In office
January 19, 2009 – June 10, 2009
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Kevin Krueger (Small Business), Ida Chong (Technology, Economic Development)
Succeeded by Iain Black
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport of British Columbia
In office
June 10, 2009 – October 25, 2010
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Mary Polak
Minister of Science and Universities of British Columbia
Assumed office
October 25, 2010
Premier Gordon Campbell
Minister of Regional Economic and Skills Development of British Columbia
Assumed office
November 22, 2010
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Moira Stilwell
Personal details
Born 1956/1957 (age 59–60)
Victoria, British Columbia
Occupation Certified General Accountant

Ida Chong (Chinese: 張杏芳; pinyin: Zhāng Xìngfāng; born 1956 or 1957)[1] was previously British Columbia's Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development and was Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative as well as Minister of Technology, Trade, and Economic Development; Minister of Community Services; and Minister Responsible for Women's and Senior's Services (June 2005 - June 2008); Minister of Advanced Education (December 2004 to June 2005); and Minister of State for Women's and Senior's Services (January - December 2004). She was appointed Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development in March 2011.

Chong was the BC Liberal MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. She was first elected in 1996 and was re-elected in 2001, 2005, and 2009.

Born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Chong began her political career in 1993 as a municipal councillor for the District of Saanich. She ran her own accounting firm with business partner Karen Kesteloo and is a fellow of the Certified General Accountant of BC (FCGA). She was awarded a CGA-BC lifetime membership in September 2014.

On September 18, 2014, Chong announced her intention to run for mayor of the City of Victoria in the November 2014 municipal election which she subsequently lost, coming a distant third to new mayor, Lisa Helps and previous mayor Dean Fortin. While Chong lost badly, it was widely speculated that she knew she could not win but instead wanted to ensure previous mayor Fortin, who ran a campaign primarily with backing of the New Democratic Party (NDP), would not win. Chong successfully set the ballot question based on Fortin's mishandling of the Johnson Street Bridge Replacement Project but simply did not have enough voters to make an impact. Fortin ultimately lost to Helps by a mere 89 votes. While Chong's running in a known left-wing municipal election after a long and successful career as a Provincial Cabinet Minister was baffling to many, the speculation is that Chong knew she could pull votes from the moderate Fortin, with a long-term strategy to strengthen the Green/Progressive vote in the region and province thus weakening the New Democratic Party by splitting the leftist vote.[2]

Community volunteer work

Chong has been an active member of the Victoria, BC community volunteering on a number of boards.[3]

2010 Recall

Chong was the subject of a MLA recall, under the British Columbia Recall and Initiative Act.[8] Chong was targeted for recall as part of a larger campaign opposing the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax.[9]

The recall ultimately failed, coming up short of the required signatures.[10] There is unverified speculation that the pressure of the recall effort was a factor in the resignation of Premier Gordon Campbell and the conversion of the Initiative Vote to a Referendum Vote under the British Columbia Referendum Act which ultimately defeated the HST. British Columbians voted 55% in favor of extinguishing the tax and returning to the PST.[11][12][13]

References

  1. ↑ Economics changing: Comfortable neighbourhoods now encompass young, old, rich and poor: [Final Edition] Harnett, Cindy EView Profile. Times - Colonist [Victoria, B.C] 12 May 2005: A4.
  2. ↑ Laird, Kevin (18 September 2014). "Ida Chong to seek Victoria mayor's seat". Victoria News.
  3. ↑ Board Resourcing and Development Office. "Member Biographies: Ida Chong". Government of British Columbia.
  4. ↑ University of Victoria. "University of Victoria Board of Governors". University of Victoria.
  5. ↑ Victoria Chinese Commerce Association. "About Us: Founding Members". Victoria Chinese Commerce Association.
  6. ↑ 150 Gold Mountain. "About the VCCA (Victoria Chinese Commerce Association)".
  7. ↑ Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society. "About Us: Directors and Team". Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Society.
  8. ↑ Harnett, Cindy (30 November 2010). "Elections BC approves recall petition". Times Colonist.
  9. ↑ Mason, Gary (3 January 2011). "Ida Chong Recall Campaign Makes Little Sense". Globe and Mail.
  10. ↑ CBC News (3 February 2011). "Chong Recall Bid Fails". CBC News.
  11. ↑ MacLeod, Andrew (November 3, 2010). "'Politics Can Be a Nasty Business': Campbell Steps Down". The Tyee. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  12. ↑ Burgess, Steve (October 19, 2010). "Nine Per Cent Gordo". The Tyee. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  13. ↑ "B.C. Premier Campbell stepping down". CBC. November 3, 2010. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
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