Elizabeth Cull

Elizabeth Cull
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Oak Bay-Gordon Head
In office
December 13, 1989 – May 28, 1996
Preceded by Brian Ray Douglas Smith
Succeeded by Ida Chong
Minister of Health & Minister Responsible for Seniors of British Columbia
In office
November 5, 1991 – September 15, 1993
Premier Michael Harcourt
Preceded by William Bruce Strachan
Succeeded by Paul Ramsey
5th Deputy Premier of British Columbia
In office
September 15, 1993 – February 22, 1996
Premier Michael Harcourt
Preceded by Anita Hagen
Succeeded by Dan Miller
Minister of Finance and Corporation Relations
In office
September 15, 1993 – June 17, 1996
Premier Michael Harcourt
Glen Clark
Preceded by Glen Clark
Succeeded by Andrew Petter
Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks
In office
May 10, 1995 – August 16, 1995
Premier Michael Harcourt
Preceded by Moe Sihota
Succeeded by Moe Sihota
Personal details
Born (1952-02-21) 21 February 1952
London, England, United Kingdom
Political party NDP

Elizabeth Cull (born 21 February 1952) is a Canadian politician in the province of British Columbia and small-business owner. She was an NDP MLA for the riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head from 1989 to 1996.[1]

Political career

Cull was first elected to the legislature in a by-election held on December 13, 1989,[2] defeating Social Credit candidate Susan Brice and becoming the first New Democrat to win Oak Bay-Gordon Head. She was re-elected on October 17, 1991 in the subsequent provincial general election.

Minister of Health

In 1991, Cull was appointed Minister of Health in Premier Mike Harcourt's first cabinet,[3] the first woman to be named to the position.

While Minister of Health, Cull opposed the federal government's proposal to extend patent protection for brand name drugs, and appeared in Ottawa before a Commons legislative committee to speak against the plan.[4] Cull established regional health authorities in BC to bring the governance and delivery of health services "closer to home",[5] legalized midwifery and initiated a home birth pilot project,[6] and commissioned a report to study access to reproductive health care services across BC.[7]

Minister of Finance

In 1993, in the mid-term cabinet shuffle, Harcourt appointed Cull Minister of Finance (the first woman to ever hold the position)[8] and Deputy Premier.[9]

As Minister of Finance, Cull opposed the federal Liberal push to harmonize the HST in 1996,[10] and brought in two provincial budgets.

The 1994 budget brought in a three-year tax freeze, eliminated the property transfer tax for first-time home buyers, exempted green power equipment from sales taxes, and added 8,100 post-secondary education spaces.[11] The 1995 budget extended the three-year tax freeze, increased post-secondary and health care funding, brought in a long-term debt management plan, and imposed a number of cost-savings measures.[12]

The 1996 budget projected a $25M operating surplus, but when the public accounts were calculated at the end of 1996 the operating result was a $355M deficit,[13] the result of a 1.8% revenue over-estimate. [14] Opponents of the government tried and failed to use the error to unseat the government after the 1996 election, with the judge concluding that the Minister had used her best judgement in projecting revenues.[15]

After politics

Cull was defeated by Ida Chong in the 1996 general election. After leaving elected office, Elizabeth established her own consulting firm, assisting private and public sector organizations understand the public policy process.[16]

Cull later served as Chief of Staff to Premier Ujjal Dosanjh.[17]

Cull was hired as an adjunct professor at Royal Roads University where she taught leadership, as well as at the United Way of the Lower Mainland's Public Policy Institute[18] and the Women's Campaign School.[19]

In 2002, Cull entered the world of entrepreneurship, opening a "Dig This" gardening store on Oak Bay Avenue in Victoria. Three years later she decided to buy not just the Market Square location, but the entire franchise of all four high-end gardening stores.[8]

Cull also worked as a radio personality on the political panel of the CBCV-FM CBC Radio One program On the Island until September 2012.[20]

On September 13, 2012, Elizabeth Cull announced her intention to seek the federal NDP nomination for Victoria,[21][22] but lost to Victoria lawyer Murray Rankin.[23]

References

  1. ↑ Normandin, Peter. The Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
  2. ↑ "2nd Session, 34th Parliament". Hansard. Archived from the original on 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  3. ↑ "Executive Council and Legislative Assembly, 1st Session, 35th Parliament". Hansard. Archived from the original on 2011-01-28.
  4. ↑ Guest, Dennis. The Emergence of Social Security in Canada.
  5. ↑ "Health Authorities Act".
  6. ↑ "Midwives Alliance of North America". Archived from the original on 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
  7. ↑ "The Pro-Choice Action Network".
  8. 1 2 "Elizabeth Cull, Dig This". Douglas magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16.
  9. ↑ "2nd Session, 35th Parliament". Hansard. Archived from the original on 2006-10-30. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  10. ↑ "Flashbacks: This week in B.C. political history". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. August 23, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Budget, 3rd Session, 35th Parliament".
  12. ↑ "Budget '95 Highlights". Ministry of Finance.
  13. ↑ "Globe and Mail: From a 'fudge-it budget' to Sunday drinking (Apr. 28 2011)". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. April 28, 2011.
  14. ↑ "1995 BUDGET REPORTS". Ministry of Finance.
  15. ↑ "Friesen v. Hammell, 2000 BCSC 1185".
  16. ↑ "About Elizabeth".
  17. ↑ "Regular Contributors". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on March 4, 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-28.
  18. ↑ "United Way Public Policy Institute Faculty". Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  19. ↑ "Women's Campaign School Speakers". Archived from the original on 2013-03-09. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  20. ↑ "Political panel farewells". CBC News.
  21. ↑ "New Democrat MP Denise Savoie resigns her Victoria seat for health reasons". Archived from the original on 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  22. ↑ "Elizabeth Cull seeks Victoria federal NDP nomination". Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  23. ↑ "Murray Rankin gets NDP nomination".
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