David Eby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable David Eby KC MLA
Eby in 2024
37th Premier of British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office November 18, 2022
Monarch	Charles III
Lieutenant Governor	Janet Austin Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia
Deputy	Mike Farnworth Niki Sharma
Preceded by	John Horgan
Leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party
Incumbent
Assumed office October 21, 2022
Preceded by	John Horgan
Attorney General of British Columbia
In office July 18, 2017 – July 19, 2022
Premier	John Horgan
Preceded by	Andrew Wilkinson
Succeeded by	Murray Rankin
Minister Responsible for Housing of British Columbia
In office November 26, 2020 – July 19, 2022
Premier	John Horgan
Preceded by	Selina Robinson (Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing)
Succeeded by	Murray Rankin
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-Point Grey
Incumbent
Assumed office May 14, 2013
Preceded by	Christy Clark
Personal details
Born	David Robert Patrick Eby (1976-07-21) July 21, 1976 (age 48) Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Political party	New Democratic
Spouse	Cailey Lynch
Children	3
Residences	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Alma mater	University of Waterloo Dalhousie University (LLB)
Profession	Lawyer

David Robert Patrick Eby (born July 21, 1976) is a Canadian politician and lawyer. He has been the premier of British Columbia since November 18, 2022. As a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP), he has represented Vancouver-Point Grey in the Legislative Assembly since 2013.

Before becoming premier, Eby worked as a lawyer focusing on civil rights. He was also the executive director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA). In 2013, he was elected to the provincial legislature. His work there has focused on making housing more affordable, improving public safety, and changing laws. From 2017 to 2022, he served as the Attorney General of British Columbia. In 2022, he became the leader of the BC NDP and then the premier.

Early Life and Career

David Eby was born in 1976 in Kitchener, Ontario. His father was a lawyer and his mother was a teacher and principal. He is the oldest of four children. As a teenager, he showed his interest in helping others by protesting the treatment of circus elephants. He was also the student council president in his final year of high school.

He studied English at the University of Waterloo. After graduating, he worked for a communications company. In 2004, he earned his law degree from the Schulich School of Law in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He became a lawyer in 2005.

From 2005 to 2008, he worked at the Pivot Legal Society in Vancouver. Then, from 2008 to 2012, he was the executive director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA). He even wrote a book called The Arrest Handbook: A Guide to Your Rights. He also taught law at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and led the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.

Early Political Journey (2008–2017)

In 2008, Eby tried to get a spot on the Vancouver City Council, but he was not successful.

In 2011, he ran as the NDP candidate in a special election for Vancouver-Point Grey. He came in a close second to Christy Clark, who was the premier at the time. Two years later, in the 2013 general election, he ran against Clark again. This time, Eby won, which was unusual because his party did not win the election overall.

After becoming an MLA, Eby joined the NDP's "shadow cabinet." This is a group of opposition politicians who watch over government departments. He focused on advanced education and later on tourism, housing, and gaming. As the housing critic, he asked for an investigation into Vancouver's real estate market. He believed some practices were making homes too expensive.

In 2016, a former NDP premier, Glen Clark, said Eby was "the future of the NDP."

Attorney General of British Columbia (2017–2022)

After the 2017 election, the NDP formed the government with the help of the Green Party. David Eby was appointed attorney general in Premier John Horgan's cabinet. He was also in charge of liquor, gaming, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).

During his time as attorney general, British Columbia passed a law to protect people from lawsuits meant to silence them. This law helps people speak freely on public issues without fear of being sued.

On July 19, 2022, Eby stepped down from his cabinet role. He did this to run for the leadership of the BC NDP.

ICBC Insurance Changes

When Eby became attorney general, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) was facing serious financial problems. He explained that the cost of claims was rising, and too much money was going to legal fees instead of to people who were injured.

To fix this, Eby announced several big changes.

• Payments for minor injuries were capped.
• Benefits for medical costs and lost wages were increased.
• ICBC also changed how disputes were settled, moving them to a new system to reduce legal costs.

These changes were expected to save a lot of money. Eby also changed how car insurance rates were calculated. The new method focused more on a driver's experience and crash history. This meant safer drivers would pay less, while riskier drivers would pay more.

In 2020, Eby announced that ICBC would move to a "no-fault" system. This means that after a car accident, your own insurance company covers your costs, no matter who caused the accident. This change was made to greatly reduce legal costs and speed up payments. While some lawyers criticized this, Eby said it was necessary to make ICBC financially stable.

Electoral System Review

As part of the agreement with the Green Party, the NDP government promised to hold a vote on changing British Columbia's election system. In 2018, people voted by mail on two questions. The first asked if they wanted to change from the current "first-past-the-post" system to a "proportional representation" system. In "first-past-the-post," the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they don't get more than half. "Proportional representation" aims for the number of seats a party gets to match the percentage of votes they receive.

The second question asked voters to choose between three different proportional representation models. On December 20, 2018, the results showed that 61.3 percent of voters chose to keep the "first-past-the-post" system. Eby later said that British Columbians seemed happy with the current system.

Housing Initiatives

After the 2020 election, Eby was also given the role of minister responsible for housing. He set a goal to help people living in parks in Victoria and Vancouver find shelter. He worked with city governments to approve plans for temporary and permanent housing.

Eby strongly pushed for more homeless shelters, even when some local politicians disagreed. He explained that it was important to prevent people from living in outdoor camps. In one case, he used the province's power to overrule a city council that denied a permit for a homeless shelter.

In 2021, the government looked into the BC Housing agency. A report found that the agency needed better oversight. After this, Eby changed the agency's leadership and ordered a detailed review of its finances.

Premier of British Columbia (Since 2022)

Becoming Premier

In 2022, David Eby ran to become the leader of the BC NDP. He proposed several ideas to help with the housing crisis, including a tax on homes sold within two years of being bought. He won the leadership race without any other candidates, and was sworn in as premier on November 18, 2022. The ceremony was led by the Musqueam First Nation.

First Priorities

As premier, Eby focused on housing, public safety, and healthcare. Right after becoming premier, he announced two tax credits to help families with the cost of living. He also directed ICBC to freeze basic car insurance rates for two years.

In March 2023, there was an attempt to remove Eby from his position as an MLA. This attempt failed because it did not get enough signatures.

Addressing Cost of Living

Eby's government faced challenges like housing costs and inflation. Their first budget included billions of dollars for healthcare. It also provided a tax credit for renters and increased payments for income assistance and disability benefits.

Eby created a new ministry just for housing. In April 2023, he announced a new housing plan for the province. This plan included changing zoning rules to allow more multi-family homes. It also aimed to build thousands of new student and social housing units. The plan also included a tax on quick house sales.

In August 2023, Eby asked the Bank of Canada to stop increasing interest rates. He said these increases were making mortgage payments too high for people in British Columbia. In September 2023, his government announced that the maximum rent increase for 2024 would be 3.5%. This was higher than before but still below Canada's inflation rate.

Economic Focus

In May 2023, Eby announced a new focus for British Columbia's forestry industry. Instead of just exporting raw logs, the province would focus on making more valuable wood products. This change aims to create new jobs and help the industry grow.

In June 2023, Eby led a trade mission to Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The goal was to build stronger trade relationships with these countries. This helps British Columbia rely less on just one trading partner.

Housing Actions

Eby's government has taken strong steps to increase the number of homes available and lower building costs. In his first 18 months, his government:

• Ended rules that only allowed single-family homes in urban areas.
• Changed building rules to make it easier to build low-rise apartments.
• Required cities to approve housing projects faster if they meet rules.
• Banned short-term rentals in major cities.
• Increased how many homes can be built near transit stations.
• Created a tax break for first-time home buyers.
• Removed parking requirements for buildings near transit.

These changes are some of the most significant in North America. Some people have praised these reforms, while others have criticized them for being too extreme.

Education Changes

In 2024, Eby announced a ban on smartphones and tablets in BC schools. He explained that this decision was made because constant access to apps can affect students' health and social skills.

Healthcare Improvements

On June 1, 2023, the BC government allowed pharmacists to do more. Now, pharmacists in British Columbia can prescribe treatments for 21 minor health issues. Premier Eby says this helps free up doctors and hospitals for people with more serious health problems.

Towards the end of 2023, Eby's government passed a law to make it easier for doctors and nurses trained in other countries to work in British Columbia. This law helps address the need for more healthcare workers in the province.

Personal Life

David Eby is married to Cailey Lynch. She was a registered nurse and is now a family doctor. They have three children. Eby has been a vegetarian since he was 14 years old.

Elections

See also

• List of University of Waterloo people