Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)

The leader of the Opposition () is the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia who leads the political party recognized as the Official Opposition. This position generally goes to the leader of the largest party in the Legislative Assembly that is not in government.

History Prior to the 1903 election, British Columbia politics operated as a non-partisan democracy. Members often declared themselves to be supporters of the government or of the opposition, but the labels were informal and the lines often shifted. The most prominent member of the opposition was often called the "leader of the Opposition", but the position was not officially recognized until the introduction of formalized party politics.

List of leaders of the Opposition Portrait Opposition leader Constituency Term of officePartyJames Alexander MacDonald Rossland CityOctober 19, 1903 – October 10, 1909Liberal John Oliver Delta October 10, 1909 – November 25, 1909Liberalvacant November 25, 1909 – January 1910LiberalJames Hurst Hawthornthwaite Nanaimo City January 1910 – March 1910SocialistHarlan Carey Brewster Alberni January 1910 – March 28, 1912LiberalParker Williams NewcastleMarch 1912 – March 1, 1916SocialistHarlan Carey Brewster Victoria CityMarch 1, 1916 – November 23, 1916LiberalWilliam John Bowser Vancouver CityNovember 23, 1916 – June 20, 1924ConservativeRobert Henry Pooley EsquimaltAugust 1924 – July 18, 1928ConservativeDuff Pattullo Prince RupertJanuary 1929 – November 15, 1933LiberalRobert Connell Victoria CityNovember 15, 1933 – June 1, 1937Co-operative CommonwealthSocial ReconstructiveFrank Porter Patterson DewdneyJune 1, 1937 – February 10, 1938Conservative vacant February 10, 1938 – September 1938ConservativeRoyal Maitland Vancouver-Point GreySeptember 1938 – October 21, 1941ConservativeHarold Winch Vancouver EastOctober 21, 1941 – January 19, 1952Co-operative CommonwealthHerbert Anscomb Oak BayJanuary 19, 1952 – June 12, 1952Progressive ConservativeHarold Winch Vancouver EastJune 12, 1952 – April 10, 1953Co-operative CommonwealthArnold Webster Vancouver EastApril 10, 1953 – April 6, 1956Co-operative CommonwealthRobert Strachan Cowichan-NewcastleCowichan-MalahatApril 6, 1956 – April 12, 1969Co-operative CommonwealthNew Democratic vacant April 12, 1969 – September 1969New Democratic Dave Barrett CoquitlamSeptember 1969 – September 15, 1972New Democratic W. A. C. Bennett South OkanaganSeptember 15, 1972 – June 5, 1973Social CreditFrank Richter Jr. Boundary-Similkameen June 5, 1973 – November 24, 1973Social CreditBill Bennett South OkanaganNovember 24, 1973 – December 22, 1975Social CreditWilliam King Revelstoke-SlocanDecember 22, 1975 – June 3, 1976New Democratic Dave Barrett Vancouver East June 3, 1976 – May 20, 1984New Democratic Bob Skelly Alberni May 20, 1984 – April 12, 1987New DemocraticMike Harcourt Vancouver CentreApril 12, 1987 – November 5, 1991New DemocraticGordon Wilson Powell River-Sunshine Coast November 5, 1991 – February 1993LiberalFred Gingell Delta SouthFebruary 1993 – February 17, 1994LiberalGordon Campbell Vancouver-QuilchenaVancouver-Point GreyFebruary 17, 1994 – June 5, 2001LiberalJoy MacPhail Vancouver-HastingsJune 5, 2001 – May 17, 2005New DemocraticCarole James Victoria-Beacon Hill May 17, 2005 – January 20, 2011New DemocraticDawn Black New WestminsterJanuary 20, 2011 – April 17, 2011New DemocraticAdrian Dix Vancouver-Kingsway April 17, 2011 – May 4, 2014New DemocraticJohn Horgan Juan de Fuca May 4, 2014 – July 18, 2017New DemocraticChristy Clark Kelowna West July 18, 2017 – August 4, 2017LiberalRich Coleman Langley East August 4, 2017 – February 3, 2018LiberalAndrew Wilkinson Vancouver-Quilchena February 3, 2018 – November 21, 2020LiberalShirley Bond Prince George-ValemountNovember 23, 2020 – April 30, 2022LiberalKevin Falcon Vancouver-QuilchenaApril 30, 2022 – October 19, 2024LiberalBC United John Rustad Nechako Lakes October 19, 2024 – December 4, 2025 Conservative Trevor Halford Surrey-White Rock December 4, 2025 – June 29, 2026 Conservative Heather Maahs Chilliwack North June 29, 2026 – September 20, 2026 Conservative Lorne Doerkson Cariboo-Chilcotin September 20, 2026 – present Conservative

Notes

References