Joan Phillip

Joan Phillip
Amshen
Campaign portrait, 2023[a]
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-profits of British Columbia
In office
November 18, 2024 – August 28, 2026
PremierDavid Eby
Preceded byMegan Dykeman
Succeeded byto be appointed
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-Strathcona
Vancouver-Mount Pleasant (2023–2024)
In office
June 24, 2023 – August 28, 2026
Preceded byMelanie Mark
Succeeded byto be elected
Personal details
BornJoan Carter[1]
(1952-06-12)June 12, 1952
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada[2]
DiedAugust 28, 2026(2026-08-28) (aged 74)
PartyNDP (federally, 1972–2026)[2]
BC NDP (provincially)
SpouseStewart Phillip[3]
RelationsChief Dan George (grandfather)[2]
Lee Maracle (sister)

Joan Phillip (née Carter,[1] formerly Stewart;[4] June 12, 1952 – August 28, 2026) was a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2023 until her death in 2026, as a member of the NDP.

An Indigenous leader and climate activist, Phillip grew up in North Vancouver and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.[5] She also worked as a land manager for the Penticton Indian Band,[6][5] and ran for the federal New Democrats during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections in the riding of Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.[2][3]

Following the 2023 resignation of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Melanie Mark, Phillip was acclaimed as the BC NDP's candidate to contest the by-election.[5] She was elected the riding's MLA at the June 24, 2023, by-election.[7] She was re-elected in the 2024 British Columbia general election in the Vancouver-Strathcona riding (substantially the same as Vancouver-Mount Pleasant, but renamed).[8]

Early life and activism

Phillip was born Joan Carter[1] on June 12, 1952,[9][6] and raised in the city of North Vancouver, British Columbia,[10] spending her childhood there and in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.[11] Her Indigenous name was Amshen. She was the daughter of Bob George, a Tsleil-Waututh elder; his father was Dan George, an actor, writer, and Tsleil-Waututh chief.[12][13] She was born alongside her twin sister, Joyce.[9] Among her siblings is author Lee Maracle.[13][1]

Involved in political activism from the age of sixteen,[10][1] Phillip, then Carter, was a member of the Native Alliance for Red Power (NARP), an Indigenous militant organization established in the 1960s.[1][14] Glen Coulthard described Phillip, then Carter, in the Routledge Handbook of Critical Indigenous Studies as one of the core NARP members alongside Ray Bobb, Willie Dunn, David Hanuse, and Henry Jack.[15] As an activist, she allied herself with the Palestine Liberation Organization and Black Panthers. In 1975, Carter led a delegation of 18 Western Canadian Indigenous representatives, called the Native Peoples Friendship Delegation, to the People's Republic of China.[1]

She had an extensive career as an environmental activist, having previously worked to oppose the Trans Mountain pipeline, Ajax mine, Site C dam, and the salmon farm industry.[5] In solidarity with the ongoing Oka Crisis in 1990, Phillip and her husband Stewart organized a rail blockade of Seton Portage, being arrested by the RCMP in the process.[16] Phillip alongside her husband were closely associated with one another in activist circles, having protested together since the 1970s.[16] Climate organization 350 degrees Canada dubbed Phillip one of seven candidates to watch during her previous runs for federal office.[5]

Phillip studied Indigenous peoples' resource management at the University of Saskatchewan and at the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association.[2]

Career

Before elected to political office, Phillip worked for a various First Nations organizations including as a youth counsellor at the Outreach Alternate School through Britannia Secondary School, program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre (then the Vancouver Indian Centre[2]), as part of the native police liaison committee in Vancouver,[2] at the First United Church's outreach alternative school,[5] and as the lands manager for the Penticton Indian Band.[17] Phillip was elected as a member of the Penticton Band Council.[10] Phillip retired as land manager for the Penticton Indian Band in September 2019, having served in the position for 20 years.[10]

Political career

Phillip alongside outgoing Vancouver-Mount Pleasant MLA Melanie Mark

Phillip ran twice for the federal New Democratic Party during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections before her subsequent win during the 2023 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant provincial by-election.[6] Phillip was a supporter of the New Democrats since "about 1972", during the premiership of Dave Barrett. According to Phillip, she ran for the party twice previously prior to her 2019 run, once provincially and once federally.[2]

She entered federal politics as the New Democratic Party's candidate for the Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola riding during the 2019 election. The seat was held by Dan Albas of the Conservative Party. Phillip was acclaimed as the New Democrats' nominee for the seat on May 4, 2019.[10][2] She lost to the incumbent, ultimately placing in third.[11]

Phillip ran for the seat of Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola for a second time during the 2021 federal election for a rematch against Albas. She ultimately lost,[18] but moved the New Democrats into second place in the riding.[11] Phillip conceded that her campaign was a long shot, citing the conservative lean of the riding.[18]

Following two unsuccessful runs for federal office in Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, Phillip was parachuted in to the riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant as the nominee for the provincial British Columbia New Democratic Party. The seat was vacated upon the resignation of former cabinet minister Melanie Mark.[11] Despite her connections with the Penticton Indian Band, Phillip touted her long-term, ancestral connections to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside including previous employment, experiences in the riding, and family relations.[11][5] She ran against four candidates, Jackie Lee of B.C. United, Wendy Hayko of the B.C. Greens, Karin Litzcke of the B.C. Conservatives, and Kimball Cariou of the B.C. Communist Party.[6] Phillip ultimately won with 68 percent of the vote, becoming the next MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.[19]

Her victory was celebrated by the First Nations Leadership Council, a council composed of representatives from the BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, and Union of BC Indian Chiefs.[20] Upon her victory, she became the second ever First Nations woman to serve in British Columbia's Legislative Assembly, after Melanie Mark, her predecessor.[20] Her predecessor, Melanie Mark, stated that a "toxic culture" at the Legislative Assembly contributed to her resignation. In response, Phillip asserted that she would choose to "give any MLAs who are rude to her a good whack with her SIA stick", a stick from a Saskatoon berry tree.[5]

Phillip endorsed Alberta MP Heather McPherson in the 2026 New Democratic Party leadership election.[21]

Political positions

Phillip was a supporter of Premier of British Columbia David Eby's proposed rental protection fund, which provided greater abilities for non-profit housing providers to purchase rental buildings slated for redevelopment.[6]

Citing her stepson's death as a result of a Carfentanil overdose, Phillip supported access to safe supply and easy to access support services. According to the Vancouver Sun, Phillip was dismayed at BC United's assertions that prescribed opioids contributed to human deaths.[6] Phillip also supported the federal New Democrats' proposal for a universal pharmacare program, and opposed the Eby government's decision to pause DRIPA, with the NDP ultimately backing down.[2][22]

Personal life

Phillip alongside her husband, Stewart Phillip, and Premier of British Columbia David Eby.

Phillip was married to Chief Stewart Phillip, the president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), until her death. Both were previously married and had children from their previous relationships.[1] The two of them have five surviving children, fifteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.[17][6] Phillip raised three of her children in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.[11] In 2018, Phillip's stepson, Kenny Phillip, died of a carfentanil overdose, leaving behind six children.[6]

Stewart first encountered Joan Carter after reading Lee Maracle's Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel and seeing her headshot featured in the book.[1] The two met during their time at the Vancouver Indian Centre Society as members of the board.[1] The relationship between the two was strained as a result of Stewart's struggles with alcoholism.[1] Phillip stated that she was clean and sober for 34 years as of May 2023.[11]

Phillip owned an apartment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside along with a home in Penticton.[19]

Health and death

In December 2025, the BC NDP caucus announced that Phillip had been diagnosed with an illness that needed treatment, with her taking a leave of absence as an MLA. In April 2026, Premier David Eby described Phillip as "very ill" and wished her a "quick recovery".[23]

Phillip died on August 28, 2026, at the age of 74 from an undisclosed illness. The UBCIC asked for donations to be directed to the BC Cancer Society.[24]

Electoral history

Provincial elections

2024 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-Strathcona
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJoan Phillip13,67368.17+0.38$25,594.73
ConservativeScott Muller3,43017.10+12.19$224.00
GreenSimon de Weerdt2,61813.05+1.49$4,690.73
CommunistKimball Cariou3361.68–0.39$1,088.46
Total valid votes 20,05799.68–
Total rejected ballots 640.32+0.06
Turnout 20,12151.36
Registered voters 39,177
New Democratic hold Swing −5.91
Source: Elections BC[25][26]
British Columbia provincial by-election, June 24, 2023: Vancouver-Mount Pleasant
Resignation of Melanie Mark
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticJoan Phillip5,45967.79+0.84$52,059.61
BC UnitedJackie Lee1,10113.67+0.69$57,476.94
GreenWendy Hayko93111.56–8.51$7,328.43
ConservativeKarin Litzcke3954.91New$9,705.81
CommunistKimball Cariou1672.07New$0.00
Total valid votes/expenses limit 8,053100.00—$69,086.25
Total rejected ballots 210.26–0.71
Turnout 8,07417.84–30.17
Registered voters 45,533
New Democratic hold Swing +0.08
Source: Elections BC[27][28]

Federal elections

2021 Canadian federal election: Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeDan Albas30,56347.60–0.35$56,271.94
New DemocraticJoan Phillip13,81321.51+4.72$22,670.21
LiberalSarah Eves13,29120.70–4.33$46,717.01
People'sKathryn Mcdonald4,7887.46+5.39$9,005.35
GreenBrennan Wauters1,7552.73–5.10$93.76
Total valid votes/expense limit 64,21099.28–$134,576.18
Total rejected ballots 4660.72+0.20
Turnout 64,67664.53–3.75
Eligible voters 100,229
Conservative hold Swing –
Source: Elections Canada[29][30]
2019 Canadian federal election: Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
ConservativeDan Albas31,13547.95+8.39$37,003.45
LiberalMary Ann Murphy16,25225.03–12.18$46,702.69
New DemocraticJoan Phillip10,90416.79–2.51$29,000.61
GreenRobert Mellalieu5,0867.83+3.90$800.00
People'sAllan Duncan1,3452.07–$3,071.16
LibertarianJesse Regier2130.33–none listed
Total valid votes/expense limit 64,93599.48–$126,719.22
Total rejected ballots 3410.52+0.22
Turnout 65,27668.28–2.68
Eligible voters 95,597
Conservative hold Swing +10.28
Source: Elections Canada[31][32]

Notes

  1. ↑ Used as the campaign portrait in 2024

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Lupick, Travis (May 14, 2018). "The People's Chief: Part one – Stewart Phillip reflects on his roots and the fight ahead". The Georgia Straight. Overstory Media Group. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Kidd, Steve (May 18, 2019). "Penticton Indian Band councillor trying for federal seat". Pentiction Western News. Archived from the original on December 4, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Meissner, Dirk (June 22, 2023). "NDP expected to win B.C. byelections in safe ridings, but eyes on second place". Vancouver Sun. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ Coulthard, Glen (March 8, 2023). "Reading, Writing, and Thinking Alongside Lee Maracle". Upping the Anti. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Shaw, Rob (April 30, 2023). "Indigenous leader and climate activist Joan Phillip to run in Vancouver-Mount Pleasant". Business in Vancouver. Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DeRosa, Katie (June 16, 2023). "Advance polls are open as five candidates vie to replace Melanie Mark in Vancouver byelection". Vancouver Sun. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  7. ↑ Meissner, Dirk (June 23, 2023). "Joan Phillip predicted to win B.C. byelection". Penticton Herald. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  8. ↑ "BC election 2024 results: Vancouver-Strathcona | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  9. 1 2 Maracle, Lee (May 15, 2017). Bobbi Lee Indian Rebel. Canadian Scholars' Press. ISBN 978-0-88961-594-6. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Michaels, Kathy (April 12, 2019). "High profile Penticton Indian Band council member eyeing up federal politics". Kelowna Capital News. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Miller, James (May 2, 2023). "Joan Phillip to run for NDP in Downtown Eastside". Penticton Herald. Archived from the original on June 25, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  12. ↑ Phillip, Joan [@NdpJoan] (June 18, 2023). "On this father's day, I am thinking of my father and his father. They were powerful community leaders, and their memories inspire me every day. My father, Dr. Elder Bob George, earned an honourary [sic] degree at BCIT, where he served as the Elder in Residence. (1/3)" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2024 – via Twitter.
  13. 1 2 "Robert George Obituary – Vancouver, BC". Dignity Memorial. September 30, 2014. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Native Movement Today". Native Movement: 8. March 1, 1970. JSTOR community.28041070. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  15. ↑ Coulthard, Glen Sean (December 31, 2020). "Chapter 28: Once were Maoists. Third World currents in Fourth World anti-colonialism, Vancouver, 1967–1975". Routledge Handbook of Critical Indigenous Studies. Routledge Handbooks Online. p. 381. doi:10.4324/9780429440229-33. ISBN 978-1-138-34130-2. S2CID 229392614. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  16. 1 2 Lupick, Travis (May 17, 2018). "The People's Chief: Part two – How a life of activism led Stewart Phillip to stand before Kinder Morgan". The Georgia Straight. Overstory Media Group. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Joan Phillip". In Their Name. BC Wrongful Death Law Reform Society. July 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  18. 1 2 Tran, Paula; DeMeer, Andrea (September 21, 2021). "Losing Central Okanagan candidates look back at 2021 campaign". Summerland Review. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  19. 1 2 Dacre, Colin (June 24, 2023). "Joan Phillip, Penticton Indian Band member, elected MLA in Vancouver – Penticton News". Castanet. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  20. 1 2 "First Nations Leadership Council Celebrates Joan Phillip Being Sworn in as Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia". UBCIC. June 28, 2023. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Power couple endorses candidate for NDP leadership". Penticton Herald. January 30, 2026. Archived from the original on February 1, 2026. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ DeRosa, Katie (April 13, 2026). "NDP government to pause DRIPA amendments amid caucus divisions". CBC News. Retrieved August 31, 2026. Eby cited opposition from Joan Phillip, an Indigenous leader and NDP MLA for Vancouver-Strathcona, as one of the reasons the bill is being paused.
  23. ↑ "Joan Phillip announces leave of absence from B.C. NDP caucus due to illness". CBC News. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  24. ↑ "B.C. NDP MLA Joan Phillip dead at 74". CBC News. Retrieved August 28, 2026.
  25. ↑ Boegman, Anton (April 17, 2025). "2024 Election Report" (PDF). Elections BC. p. 11. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  27. ↑ Boegman, Anton (December 20, 2023). "2023 By-Election Report" (PDF). Elections BC. pp. 25–26. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  28. ↑ "By-Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Forty-Fourth General Election 2021 — Poll-by-poll Results: Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2021.
  30. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2021). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2021 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
  31. ↑ "Forty-Third General Election 2019 — Poll-by-poll Results: Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola". elections.ca. Elections Canada. 2019.
  32. ↑ Canada, Chief Electoral Officer (2019). "Candidate Campaign Returns, 2019 General Election: Part 3C – Summary of Electoral Campaign Expenses and Other Outflows – Election expenses subject to the limit – Total". elections.ca. Elections Canada. Expenses are reported "as amended" where amendments have been filed; otherwise, they are reported "as submitted".
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.