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 served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2005 to 2020. She was a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (NDP). Carole James led the NDP party and was the Leader of the Opposition from 2005 to 2011. Later, she became the Deputy Premier of British Columbia and Minister of Finance. She held these important roles from 2017 to 2020.
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Carole James's Early Life and Family
Carole James was born in Dukinfield, England. She grew up in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, and then in Victoria, British Columbia. After high school, she worked with people who had developmental disabilities.
Family Life and Community Work
As a young mother, Carole James joined a parents' group in Victoria. This was her first step into public life. In 2004, she married Albert Gerow. He was a First Nations artist and a former police officer. He was also a chief of the Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation. Carole James has also been a foster parent for over twenty years.
In 2020, Carole James shared that she would not run in the 2020 British Columbia general election. This was due to a health condition.
Carole James's Career Before Politics
Before becoming a politician, Carole James worked in education and child care. She was very involved in her community.
Working in Schools and Child Care
From 1990 to 2001, James served on the Greater Victoria School Board. She was the chair for seven terms. She also led the BC School Trustees Association for five terms. This made her well-known across the province. She also worked at the national level. She was the vice-president of the Canadian School Boards Association.
From 1999 to 2001, James worked for the British Columbia government. She helped create child care policies. She also served on many local and provincial groups.
In 2001, James ran for a seat in the Legislative Assembly. She lost by a very small number of votes. After that, she moved to Prince George, British Columbia. There, she worked with Carrier Sekani Family Services. She helped children and families in that role.
Carole James's Political Journey
Carole James became a key figure in British Columbia politics. She led her party and served in important government roles.
Leading the BC NDP Party
On November 23, 2003, Carole James was chosen to lead the NDP in British Columbia. At that time, the party was not doing well. They had only two seats in the Legislative Assembly. James promised to update the party's ideas and how it worked. She wanted to gain more support.
In the 2005 provincial election, James worked hard to promote herself and the NDP. Many people were surprised by how well the party did. The NDP 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 Legislative Assembly. James won her own seat in Victoria-Beacon Hill. She defeated the person who held the seat before her. She was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017.
Serving in Government Roles
In 2017, the BC NDP formed a government. Carole James became the Deputy Premier of British Columbia. This is a very important role, like a second-in-command to the Premier. She also became the Minister of Finance. This means she was in charge of the province's money and budget. She stepped down from both positions in 2020. This happened shortly after she left the provincial legislature.
