Carole James facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carole James
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| 14th Deputy Premier of British Columbia | |
| In office July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020 |
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| Premier | John Horgan |
| Preceded by | Rich Coleman |
| Succeeded by | Mike Farnworth |
| Minister of Finance of British Columbia | |
| In office July 18, 2017 – November 26, 2020 |
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| Premier | John Horgan |
| Preceded by | Mike de Jong |
| Succeeded by | Selina Robinson |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Victoria-Beacon Hill |
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| In office May 17, 2005 – October 24, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Jeff Bray |
| Succeeded by | Grace Lore |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia | |
| In office May 17, 2005 – January 20, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Joy MacPhail |
| Succeeded by | Dawn Black |
| Leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party |
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| In office November 23, 2003 – January 20, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Joy MacPhail (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Dawn Black (interim) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Carole Alison James
December 22, 1957 Dukinfield, England |
| Political party | New Democratic |
| Spouse |
Albert Gerow
(m. 2004) |
| Residences | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation |
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Carole Alison James (born December 22, 1957) is a Canadian politician. She represented the area of Victoria-Beacon Hill in British Columbia's government from 2005 to 2020. She was a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (NDP). She led the party and was the main opposition leader in British Columbia from 2005 to 2011. After stepping down as leader, she continued in politics. She served as the 14th Deputy Premier of British Columbia and Minister of Finance under John Horgan, from 2017 to 2020.
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About Carole James
Carole James was born in Dukinfield, England. She grew up in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, and later in Victoria, British Columbia. Her birth father was Métis, which means he had both Indigenous and European heritage. Carole learned about this part of her family history after she finished high school.
After high school, Carole worked with her first husband. They helped people with developmental disabilities in Alberta and British Columbia. She became involved in a parents' group in Victoria. This group helped her get started in politics.
In 2004, Carole James married Albert Gerow. He is a First Nations artist. He was also a local councillor and a police officer. Albert Gerow was the chief of the Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation. Carole James has also been a foster parent for more than twenty years. This means she has cared for many children in her home.
In 2006, Carole James shared that she had been diagnosed with a type of cancer. She received treatment and recovered well. In March 2020, she announced she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Because of this, she decided not to run for re-election in 2020.
Early Career in Public Service
Carole James was a member of the Greater Victoria School Board from 1990 to 2001. She was the chair of the board for seven terms. This made her well-known across the province. She also served as president of the BC School Trustees Association for five terms. She was also vice-president of the Canadian School Boards Association.
From 1999 to 2001, James worked for the British Columbia government. She was the director of child care policy. She also served on many local and provincial groups and committees.
In 2001, James ran for a seat in the government for the NDP. She ran in the Victoria-Beacon Hill area. She lost by only 35 votes. After that, she moved to Prince George, British Columbia. There, she worked with children and families for Indigenous communities.
Political Journey
Leading the BC NDP
Carole James was chosen as the leader of the provincial NDP on November 23, 2003. At that time, the party was not doing well. In the 2001 election, the NDP had won only two seats in the government.
During her campaign, James promised to update the NDP's ideas. She also wanted to get more people to support the party. This new approach surprised some of the party's older supporters.
In the 2005 provincial election, James focused on her own image. On election night, James and the NDP did much better than expected. The party won 41.52 percent of the votes. This was a big increase from the 2001 election. They also won 33 out of 79 seats in the government. James won her own seat in Victoria-Beacon Hill with a large number of votes. She was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017.
Stepping Down as Leader
On December 1, 2010, a well-known party member, Jenny Kwan, spoke out. She criticized James's leadership and asked for a new leadership election. In response, James called a special meeting with her team. This meeting was to discuss the opposition to her leadership.
On December 6, James announced she would resign as the party's leader. She stayed in the role until Dawn Black was chosen as the temporary leader.
After this, James continued to serve in the government. She became the opposition critic for Children and Family Development. Later, she was given the important role of Finance critic. She also became the deputy leader of the BC NDP.
Serving in Government
In 2017, the BC NDP formed a minority government. This meant they had the most seats but not a clear majority. Carole James became the Deputy Premier and the Minister of Finance. These are very important roles in the government. She resigned from both positions in 2020, shortly after leaving the provincial legislature.
