Andrew Petter

Andrew J. Petter, CM QC, (born 1953) is President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada and a former provincial politician. He was the Dean of the University of Victoria law school, and served briefly as Attorney General of British Columbia under the New Democratic Party government of Ujjal Dosanjh. Petter has written extensively about the role of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its effect on government powers and decision making.[1] In 2018, he was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his commitment and leadership in advancing university-community engagement and higher education throughout the country. In 2018, he also earned the Peter Lougheed Award for Leadership in Public Policy from the Public Policy Forum.

Andrew Petter

CM QC
President and Vice-Chancellor of Simon Fraser University
In office
2010–2020
Preceded byMichael Stevenson
Succeeded byJoy Johnson
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Saanich South
In office
October 17, 1991 – May 16, 2001
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded bySusan Brice
Personal details
Born1953
Oak Bay, British Columbia
Political partyNew Democrat
ChildrenDylan
Alma materNotre Dame University College
University of Victoria
Cambridge University
ProfessionProfessor
Lawyer
WebsitePresident's Biography

Education

Petter pursued undergraduate studies at now defunct Notre Dame University College in Nelson, BC and at the University of Victoria before receiving an LL.B. from the University of Victoria in 1981. Upon graduation he won the Law Society of British Columbia gold medal for the highest standing in his class.[2] He subsequently received an LL.M. from Cambridge University in 1982 where he studied on a Commonwealth Scholarship and graduated with first class honours.[3]

Career

Petter was a legal adviser to the Constitutional Branch of the Saskatchewan Department of Justice.[4] Petter then taught at Osgoode Hall Law School between 1984 and 1986. He then joined the University of Victoria Faculty of Law in 1986.

Politics

Petter was twice elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the general provincial elections of 1991 and 1996; from 1991 until 2001 Petter represented the riding of Saanich South.[5] His constituency work included establishing the Galloping Goose Regional Trail for cyclists.[6]

During his time in the Legislative Assembly, he held several cabinet portfolios including that of Attorney General of British Columbia from February to November 2000.[7] He served as Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations from February 1998 to February 2000, and was Minister Responsible for Youth for part of that time. Petter also served as Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations and Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental Relations from June 1996 to February 1998, Minister of Health from February to June 1996, Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996 and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs from November 1991 to September 1993.[8] As Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996, Petter oversaw the establishment of the B.C. Forest Practices Code.[9] He also was on the First Nations Task Force along with Brian Mulroney, Tom Sidden, and Mike Harcourt that created and put into effect- The Treaty Commission Act in British Columbia in May 1993.

Higher education

Subsequent to his career in politics, he served as dean of the University of Victoria's faculty of law from 2001 until 2008 (the first year as Acting Dean).[10] During his time as Dean, the UVic Faculty established a new graduate law program, created a national aboriginal economic development chair and supported the first cohort of the Akitsiraq Law School in Nunavut.[11]

Selected publications
  • "Private Rights/Public Wrongs: The Liberal Lie of the Charter" in the University of Toronto Law Journal, 1995
  • "The Politics of the Charter", Supreme Court Law Review, 1986
  • "Rights in Conflict: The Dilemma of Charter Legitimacy", University of British Columbia Law Review, 1989
  • "Federalism and the Myth of the Federal Spending Power", Canadian Bar Review, 1989

Electoral results
1991 British Columbia general election: Saanich South
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticAndrew Petter10,25444.63$42,789
LiberalLorne Peasland8,30936.17$7,035
Social CreditAllen L. Vandekerkhove4,21818.36$92,822
Western Canada ConceptDouglas Christie1930.84–
Total valid votes 22,974 100.00
Total rejected ballots 300 1.03
Turnout 23,274 79.87
1996 British Columbia general election: Saanich South
Party Candidate Votes%Expenditures
New DemocraticAndrew Petter11,39446.11$46,181
LiberalFrank Leonard10,86743.98$42,352
Progressive DemocratCherie Dealey1,1984.85$6,794
ReformColin Knecht6762.74$2,842
GreenJack Etkin3431.39$1,081
Natural LawGail Anderson860.35$100
Western Canada ConceptDouglas Christie660.27$100
LibertarianKen Wiebe400.16–
Common SenseLaery Braaten380.15$100
Total valid votes 24,708 100.00
Total rejected ballots 141 0.57
Turnout 24,849 77.16

Cabinet positions
British Columbia Provincial Government of Ujjal Dosanjh
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Ujjal Dosanjh Attorney General of British Columbia
February 29, 2000–November 1, 2000		 Graeme Bowbrick
Ujjal Dosanjh Minister Responsible for Human Rights
February 29, 2000–November 1, 2000		 Graeme Bowbrick
British Columbia Provincial Government of Dan Miller
Cabinet posts (3)
Predecessor Office Successor
cont'd from Clark Ministry Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology
August 25, 1999–February 24, 2000		 Graeme Bowbrick
cont'd from Clark Ministry Minister of Intergovernmental Relations
August 25, 1999–February 24, 2000		 Greg Halsey-Brandt[12]
cont'd from Clark Ministry Minister Responsible for Youth
August 25, 1999–February 24, 2000		 Graeme Bowbrick
British Columbia Provincial Government of Glen Clark
Cabinet posts (5)
Predecessor Office Successor
Ministry Established Minister of Intergovernmental Relations
February 18, 1998–August 25, 1999		 cont'd into Miller Ministry
Tom Perry[13] Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology
February 18, 1998–August 25, 1999		 cont'd into Miller Ministry
Elizabeth Cull Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations
June 17, 1996–February 18, 1998		 Joy MacPhail
Paul Ramsey Minister of Health
February 28, 1996–June 17, 1996		 Joy MacPhail
Paul Ramsey Minister Responsible for Seniors
February 28, 1996–June 17, 1998		 Joy MacPhail
British Columbia Provincial Government of Mike Harcourt
Cabinet posts (2)
Predecessor Office Successor
Dan Miller Minister of Forests
September 15, 1993–February 22, 1996		 Dennis Streifel
John Savage[14] Minister of Aboriginal Affairs
November 5, 1991–September 15, 1993		 John Cashore

References
  1. https://www.sfu.ca/pamr/media_releases/media_releases_archives/media_01191003.html
  2. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. "36th Parliament Members". Biography. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  3. University of Victoria Official Web Page. "UVic Law Faculty Directory". University of Victoria. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  4. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. "36th Parliament Members". Biography. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  5. Mondo Politico. "Short Biography of Andrew Petter". Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  6. University of Victoria Official Web Page. "UVic Alumni Profile". 2003 Distinguished Alumni Award Page. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  7. University of Victoria Official Web Page. "UVic Law Faculty Directory". University of Victoria. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  8. Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. "36th Parliament Members". Biography. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  9. Reporter Gerry Bellett. "36th Parliament Members". Vancouver Sun Newspaper. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
  10. University of Victoria Official Web Page. "UVic Law Faculty Directory". University of Victoria. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  11. Staff Reporter for The Province Newspaper. "Former MLA Petter will become Simon Fraser University president". Archived from the original on 22 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-01-21.
  12. Ministry did not exist under Ujjal Dosanjh, Halsey-Brandt took position in the Campbell Cabinet as Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations on June 5, 2001
  13. Ministry was inactive from 1993-1998
  14. As Minister of Native Affairs
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