Adam Olsen (born January 10, 1976) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2017 provincial election. He represented the electoral district of Saanich North and the Islands as a member of the Green Party of British Columbia caucus until 2024.
Adam Olsen | |
|---|---|
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| Interim-Leader of Green Party of British Columbia | |
| In office January 6, 2020 – September 14, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Weaver |
| Succeeded by | Sonia Furstenau |
| In office August 25, 2013 – December 9, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Jane Sterk |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Weaver |
| Assembly Member for Saanich North and the Islands | |
| In office May 9, 2017 – September 21, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Gary Holman |
| Succeeded by | Rob Botterell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 10, 1976 Brentwood Bay, British Columbia |
| Political party | Green |
Political career
editOlsen was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the general 2017 provincial election in the riding of Saanich North and the Islands.[1] Olsen previously ran in the same district in the 2013 provincial election, losing narrowly to Gary Holman.[2] Following the election, he served as the party's interim leader between the resignation of Jane Sterk and the election of Andrew Weaver.[3]
Olsen joins the first minority government in British Columbia since the 1952 elections. In the 2017 British Columbia general election the Liberal Party won 43 seats, the New Democratic Party won 41 seats, and the Green Party won three seats. As no single party won a majority of seats, the Green Party was approached by both the BC Liberal Party and BC NDP to determine whether they would support a minority government or a coalition government headed by either party.[4] No grand coalition or agreement between the two large parties, excluding the Greens, was seriously considered. On May 29, NDP leader John Horgan and Green leader Andrew Weaver announced that the Greens would provide confidence and supply to an NDP minority government, a position which was endorsed the following day by the members of both caucuses.[5]
On October 7, 2019, Andrew Weaver announced he will step down as party leader once a new leader has been chosen.[6] On December 20, 2019, Olsen was appointed interim leader, following the resignation of Andrew Weaver. He took office effective January 6, 2020.[7]
Olsen is a member of the Tsartlip First Nation in Brentwood Bay and served as a two-term Central Saanich Councillor prior to his election.[8]
Electoral record
edit| 2020 British Columbia general election: Saanich North and the Islands | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Green | Adam Olsen | 17,897 | 51.97 | +10.02 | $51,642.52 | |||
| New Democratic | Zeb King | 9,990 | 29.01 | −1.55 | $39,975.02 | |||
| Liberal | Stephen P. Roberts | 6,547 | 19.01 | −7.45 | $38,138.02 | |||
| Total valid votes | 34,434 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 159 | 0.46 | +0.24 | |||||
| Turnout | 34,593 | 67.66 | −6.48 | |||||
| Registered voters | 51,126 | |||||||
| Source: Elections BC[9][10] | ||||||||
| 2017 British Columbia general election: Saanich North and the Islands | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| Green | Adam Olsen | 14,775 | 41.95 | +9.88 | $68,851 | |||
| New Democratic | Gary Holman | 10,764 | 30.56 | −2.71 | $70,266 | |||
| Liberal | Stephen P. Roberts | 9,321 | 26.46 | −6.30 | $71,305 | |||
| Independent | Jordan Templeman | 364 | 1.03 | – | $1,127 | |||
| Total valid votes | 35,224 | 100.00 | – | |||||
| Total rejected ballots | 79 | 0.22 | −0.08 | |||||
| Turnout | 35,303 | 74.14 | +4.93 | |||||
| Registered voters | 47,615 | |||||||
| Source: Elections BC[11][12] | ||||||||
| 2013 British Columbia general election: Saanich North and the Islands | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| New Democratic | Gary Holman | 10,515 | 33.27 | |||||
| Liberal | Stephen P. Roberts | 10,352 | 32.76 | |||||
| Green | Adam Olsen | 10,136 | 32.07 | |||||
| Independent | Scott McEachern | 599 | 1.90 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 31,602 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 94 | 0.30 | ||||||
| Turnout | 31,696 | 69.21 | ||||||
| Source: Elections BC[13] | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ Johnson, Lisa (May 10, 2017). "Greens celebrate 'historic' B.C. wins amid minority uncertainty". CBC News.
- ^ Shaw, Rob (May 29, 2013). "NDP's Gary Holman wins Saanich North and the Islands riding by 163 votes". Times Colonist. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ Stueck, Wendy (August 25, 2013). "B.C. Greens name Adam Olsen interim leader". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ Hunter, Justine (May 24, 2017). "BC Liberals denied majority as final election count leaves government in danger". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ Zussman, Richard; Larsen, Karen (May 30, 2017). "NDP-Green alliance to focus on electoral reform, stopping Kinder Morgan and banning big money". CBC News. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Head of British Columbia Green Party, which supports government, to step down as leader". Reuters. October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ "B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen named new interim party leader". CBC News. December 20, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
- ^ "Adam Olsen". Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
- ^ "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved August 7, 2021.
- ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved May 17, 2017.