Geoff Plant, (born May 22, 1955) is a

Canadian Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

lawyer A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters. The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as w ...

and retired

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

known for his interest in citizen's legal and electoral rights and aboriginal rights. He was a

member of the Legislative Assembly A Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is a representative elected to sit in a legislative assembly. The term most commonly refers to members of the legislature of a federated state or an autonomous region, but is also used for several nation ...

(MLA) of

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

, representing Richmond-Steveston from 1996 to 2005. A caucus member of the

British Columbia Liberal Party BC United (BCU), known from 1903 until 2023 as the British Columbia Liberal Party or BC Liberals, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party has been described as conservative, neoliberal, and occupying a centre-right ...

, he served in the

cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

Premier Premier is a title for the head of government in central governments, state governments and local governments of some countries. A second in command to a premier is designated as a deputy premier. A premier will normally be a head of govern ...

Gordon Campbell as

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations from 2001 to 2005.

Background and career

Born in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario. Hamilton has a 2021 Canadian census, population of 569,353 (2021), and its Census Metropolitan Area, census metropolitan area, which encompasses ...

and raised in

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, Plant received a B.A. from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

in 1978 and law degrees from the

University of Southampton The University of Southampton (abbreviated as ''Soton'' in post-nominal letters) is a public university, public research university in Southampton, England. Southampton is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universit ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

in 1980,

Dalhousie University Dalhousie University (commonly known as Dal) is a large public research university in Nova Scotia, Canada, with three campuses in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax, a fourth in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Bible Hill, and a second medical school campus ...

in Halifax in 1981, and from the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

in 1989. After serving as a clerk in the

Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC; , ) is the highest court in the judicial system of Canada. It comprises nine justices, whose decisions are the ultimate application of Canadian law, and grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants eac ...

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

for a year, he was called to the British Columbia bar in 1982 and began practising in litigation, focusing on public and aboriginal law. Plant was one of the eight members of the legal team representing the Attorney General of British Columbia in ''

Delgamuukw v British Columbia ''Delgamuukw v British Columbia'', Case citation,

997 Year 997 ( CMXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * 1 February: Empress Teishi gives birth to Princess Shushi - she is the first child of the emperor, but because of the power stru ...

3 SCR 1010, also known as ''Delgamuukw v The Queen'', ''Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa'', or simply ''Delgamuukw'', is a ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada that contains its first comprehensive a ...

'', 1991 BCSC 2372. This case was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada in ''Delgamuukw v British Columbia'',

3 SCR 1010.

MLA and Attorney General

A resident of

Richmond, British Columbia Richmond is a city in the coastal Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Mainly a suburban city, it occupies almost the entirety of Lulu Island (excluding Queensborough, New Westminster, Queensborough), between the two estuarine dis ...

since 1984, Plant received the

BC Liberal BC United (BCU), known from 1903 until 2023 as the British Columbia Liberal Party or BC Liberals, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party has been described as conservative, neoliberal, and occupying a centre-right ...

nomination to contest the riding of Richmond-Steveston in the 1996 provincial election, over the incumbent Allan Warnke. Plant was elected the riding's MLA with 56 per cent of the vote, and served as the opposition critic for justice and intergovernmental relations, as well as Liberal caucus whip. He shared an apartment in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

with

Gordie Hogg Gordon "Gordie" Hogg (born August 24, 1946) is a Canadian politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Surrey—White Rock in the House of Commons of Canada from 2017 to 2019, as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He ...

and party leader Gordon Campbell during that time. Plant was re-elected with 69 per cent of the vote in the 2001 election, and was appointed to the cabinet that June to serve as the

Attorney General of British Columbia The attorney general of British Columbia (AG) oversees the Ministry of Attorney General, a provincial government department responsible for the oversight of the justice system, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. The attorney gener ...

and Minister responsible for Treaty Negotiations as part of Campbell's first-term government. He oversaw the province-wide British Columbia Treaty Referendum in 2002 and the creation and oversight of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. A policy change that affected whether domestic violence complaints would be automatically prosecuted did receive criticism from women's centres and was noted by the United Nations

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly. Described as an international bill of rights for women, it was instituted ...

. Cuts to

legal aid Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who are unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. Legal aid is regarded as central in providing access to justice by ensuring equality before the law, the right ...

prompted the Law Society to

censure A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. In parliamentary procedure, it is a debatable main motion that could be adopted by a majority vote. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a sp ...

him. On the issue of

polygamy Polygamy (from Late Greek , "state of marriage to many spouses") is the practice of marriage, marrying multiple spouses. When a man is married to more than one wife at the same time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more tha ...

in Bountiful, Plant cited constitutional concerns for religious rights but also formed an investigative team to research the situation. He was regarded as a

moderate Moderate is an ideological category which entails centrist views on a liberal-conservative spectrum. It may also designate a rejection of radical or extreme views, especially in regard to politics and religion. Political position Canad ...

within Campbell's centre-right coalition who was keen on reforms for the legal, aboriginal treaty negotiation and electoral systems. In March 2005, Plant announced his decision not to run for a second term in government at that year's provincial election, citing a wish to spend more time with his wife who was experiencing

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

. He encouraged his 2001 campaign chair

John Yap John Yap (; born 1959) is a Canadian politician and former banker. He represented the electoral district of Richmond-Steveston in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2005 to 2020, as part of the BC Liberal caucus. During his t ...

to contest the Liberal nomination; Yap went on to serve as MLA for Richmond-Steveston from 2005 to 2020.

Post-politics

Upon his exit from provincial politics, he joined the law firm of

Heenan Blaikie Heenan Blaikie LLP was a Canadian law firm. It practised in the areas of business, labour and employment, litigation, taxation, entertainment law and intellectual property law. The firm was founded in 1973 by Roy Heenan, Donald Johnston, and Pe ...

while maintaining government appointments as senior advisor in land and resource negotiations with the

Council of the Haida Nation The Council of the Haida Nation (CHN; ) is the elected government of the Haida people, the Indigenous occupants of the Haida Gwaii archipelago in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The council consists of a president and vice-president el ...

. He also taught as a sessional instructor at the

University of Victoria Faculty of Law The University of Victoria Faculty of Law, commonly referred to as UVic Law, is a law school at the University of Victoria in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The school grants JD, JID, LLM, and PhD degrees in law. The law school’s alumni ...

. In 2006 Plant was appointed as a special advisor to the Premier and Minister of Advanced Education to lead a project called ''Campus 2020: Looking Ahead'', the first comprehensive review of post-secondary education in British Columbia in over 40 years. He made 52 recommendations in his report released in April 2007, including repealing the designation of

university college In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies f ...

and establishing regional universities; he received $115,000 as compensation. He was appointed by

Mayor

Sam Sullivan Sam C. Sullivan (born November 13, 1959) is a Canadian politician who served as the MLA for Vancouver-False Creek. Previously, he served as the Minister of Communities, Sport, and Cultural Development with responsibility for Translink in the ...

in May 2007 to the newly created position of Civil City Commissioner, a part-time position controlling a budget of $300,000. The position would lead Project Civil City, the mayor's effort to enhance order in Vancouver's public areas by reducing

homelessness Homelessness, also known as houselessness or being unhoused or unsheltered, is the condition of lacking stable, safe, and functional housing. It includes living on the streets, moving between temporary accommodation with family or friends, liv ...

aggressive panhandling Aggressive panhandling is a legal term in some countries and jurisdictions, such as the United States, for unlawful forms of public begging. Proponents of such legislation advocate placing limits on these activities. Some opponents believe statu ...

and the open drug market by at least 50 per cent by 2010. There had been controversy regarding this position, with opposition city councillors

Tim Stevenson Tim Stevenson (born 1945) is a Canadian politician and United Church minister. He served as councillor on the Vancouver City Council from 2002 to 2018, initially as a member of the Coalition of Progressive Electors and from 2005 as a member o ...

and

Raymond Louie Raymond Louie (; born 16 January 1965) is a Canadian politician. He is a five-term Vancouver City Councillor. Formerly a member of Coalition of Progressive Electors civic party, Louie broke away and was re-elected in 2005, and again in 2008, 2 ...

expressing doubt as to its usefulness. His appointment ended in February 2009. In 2008 he was appointed by Attorney General

Wally Oppal Wallace Taroo "Wally" Oppal, (born 1940) is a Canadian lawyer, former judge and provincial politician. Between 2005 and 2009, he served as British Columbia's Attorney General and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism, as well as Member of ...

to the British Columbia Law Institute to serve a three-year term. He joined the

Canada West Foundation The Canada West Foundation is a conservative non-partisan think tank based in Calgary, Alberta. It researches issues of concern in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba and issues of national significance. The foundation focuses o ...

's board of directors in 2009, before becoming the board's chair in 2014. From 2010 to 2017, he served as chair of the board for Providence Health Care, the operator of St. Paul's Hospital. He was named the BC government's chief legal strategist at the

Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines The Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines were a planned-but-never-built project for a twin pipeline from Bruderheim, Alberta, to Kitimat, British Columbia. The project was active from the mid-2000s to 2016. The eastbound pipeline would have impo ...

review hearings in September 2012. In May 2015 he became chancellor of

Emily Carr University of Art and Design The Emily Carr University of Art and Design (stylized as Emily Carr University of Art + Design and abbreviated as ECU) is a public university of art school, art and design located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1925 as the Van ...

, serving until 2021. He also served on the

BC Ferries British Columbia Ferry Services Inc., Trade name, operating as BC Ferries (BCF), is a former provincial Crown corporations of Canada, Crown corporation, now operating as an independently managed, State-owned enterprise, publicly owned Canadian c ...

board of directors for more than eight years, until being forced to resign in 2019 following the introduction of term limits. As of 2024, he is a counsel with Gall Legge Grant Zwack LLP in Vancouver. Plant was made a Member of the

Order of British Columbia The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administe ...

in 2022.

Personal life

Plant was born with a

cleft palate A cleft lip contains an opening in the upper lip that may extend into the nose. The opening may be on one side, both sides, or in the middle. A cleft palate occurs when the palate (the roof of the mouth) contains an opening into the nose. The ...

and has visible results of corrective surgery. The congenital disorder's effect on his speech was not a barrier to his succeeding in law and politics, two careers that require skillful verbal communication. He and his wife have two children.

Electoral record

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plant, Geoff 1955 births Living people Alumni of the University of Cambridge Alumni of the University of Southampton Attorneys general of British Columbia BC United MLAs Clerks of the Supreme Court of Canada Harvard Law School alumni Lawyers in British Columbia Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia Members of the Order of British Columbia People from Richmond, British Columbia Politicians from Hamilton, Ontario Politicians from Vancouver Schulich School of Law alumni 20th-century Canadian lawyers 21st-century Canadian lawyers 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia