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Globe and Mail
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
New Royal Roads University campus named in honour of late B.C. premier John Horgan
Ellie Horgan choked back tears as Royal Roads University named its new campus after her late husband, John Horgan, honouring the former B.C. premier in the Vancouver Island community of Langford where he lived. 'I'm overwhelmed,' she said Friday outside the John Horgan Campus building that is nearing completion, adding, 'I can't wait until the sign goes up.' Horgan, who was also Canada's ambassador to Germany, died of cancer in November at age 65. 'As late as last September, when we were in Berlin and John was in hospital, I said, 'you know there's a movement, and it's growing, to name a campus after you,'' Ellie Horgan recalled. 'He went, 'that's just silly, they should name it after somebody who deserves it.'' But she said she was 'thrilled beyond belief' that the honour went to her late husband, who prided himself as 'John from Langford.' Premier David Eby was among more than 200 guests at the announcement, including past and present B.C. ministers. He said Horgan focused on improving access to different kinds of post-secondary training when he was premier. 'So it is entirely appropriate and fitting that this campus is named for such a remarkable champion of education,' Eby said. 'I really wish, as we all do, that John was with us here today. But of course, if he were here, he would not have let us name this campus after him. He (was) an incredibly modest guy and this is the least of what John deserves for his contributions to British Columbia.' The campus is set to open in September. Philip Steenkamp, president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads, said he met Horgan in 2019 to discuss expanding post-secondary options in Langford, one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. 'He said to me in his usual blunt way, 'you need to get out of your castle and out from behind those walls, and pop out into the community,'' Steenkamp said, a reference to historic Hatley Castle where the university's main campus is based in neighbouring Colwood. 'Here we are – so John, we took that admonition seriously." Other post-secondary institutions will also have a presence in the new campus building, including the University of Victoria, Camosun College and the Justice Institute of British Columbia. Ellie Horgan said her husband would have been even happier, 'if there was astronomy and space exploration and electives for rock polishing,' a reference to some of his passions. Royal Roads also announced the creation of the John Horgan Entrance Award, to give financial assistance to new undergraduates at the Langford campus. Steenkamp said he had made a personal donation of $25,000 to the award. Ellie Horgan said her late husband's love for Langford, education and young people 'all come together in this campus.' 'He would be proud to see students, faculty and staff become part of Langford's vibrant community, and deeply honoured to have his name associated with such a meaningful place of learning.'
CBC
10-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Yukon Liberals to pick new leader on June 19
Social Sharing The Yukon Liberal Party will select its next leader — and therefore the territory's next premier — on June 19 in Whitehorse. The party announced the date of its upcoming leadership convention on Thursday. It follows Premier Ranj Pillai's surprise announcement earlier this week that he would step down once a new leader is chosen, and will not run in the upcoming territorial election. Pillai has been premier since January 2023, when he took on the role after former premier Sandy Silver decided to give up the party leadership. Pillai ran unopposed for the leadership. Nobody has yet declared their intention to seek the party leadership this time around. The deadline to submit a nomination is May 29. Party members will be able to vote in person at the event in Whitehorse, or by proxy. If there are several candidates, voting will be done by a ranked preferential ballot, which means there may be several rounds of voting before a winner is declared. The new leader does not automatically become premier, but it would likely happen within days, according to Floyd McCormick, a retired clerk of the Legislative Assembly who still closely watches Yukon politics. McCormick says the territory's commissioner would need to issue an order making the new Liberal leader the premier. Whether or not that person already has a seat in the Legislative Assembly is of little consequence in the short term, McCormick says. They'll still have all the powers and responsibilities of the premiership until the next election. "Constitutionally speaking, that authority is always there to deal with anything that comes up," he said. McCormick points to parallels with the federal Liberals, who chose Mark Carney as their leader before he had a seat in Parliament. It's also happened before in the Yukon, McCormick points out. In 1985, Chris Pearson resigned after seven years as government leader, or premier, and Willard Phelps was chosen to succeed him, though Phelps didn't have a seat in the legislature. An election was called almost immediately and Phelps's Progressive Conservatives were ousted by Tony Penikett's NDP. Phelps had been premier for 10 weeks. Then in 2011, Darrell Pasloski was chosen to succeed Dennis Fentie as Yukon Party leader though Pasloski was not then a sitting MLA. Pasloski, as premier, also called an election soon after, winning himself a seat and his party another majority government. Election unlikely before fall, McCormick says The next premier also won't have much time before they have to face voters. The territorial election must happen by Nov. 3 — after a minimum 31-day campaign — but could be called sooner. McCormick, however, thinks it's unlikely that Yukoners will be going to the polls before fall. He said he doesn't see any advantage for the governing party to call it anytime sooner. "I don't think a summer election is something that anybody would be interested in," McCormick said. He said the party may need more time to line up its candidates for the upcoming campaign, a process which may be influenced by who the new leader is. McCormick also suggested that the new premier might want at least a bit of time in the role before facing voters. He compares it to how Carney became prime minister in March and then waited some days before calling the federal election. "So it's kind of like an audition for the position. And so, you know, the more you can act like a premier before the election, then maybe that'll convince a few people that you can be continue as premier after the election," McCormick said. He also doesn't expect the Legislative Assembly to sit again before the writ is dropped, unless "there's some sort of emergency situation."
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Liberal Leader John Hogan sworn in as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
John Hogan speaks after he was announced as the Newfoundland and Labrador Liberal Party leader replacing Dr. Andrew Furey, on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in St. John's NL. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly ST. JOHN'S — John Hogan has been officially sworn in as Newfoundland and Labrador's 15th premier. The Liberal premier announced the members of his new cabinet, who were also sworn in today during a ceremony at Government House in St. John's. Hogan, a 47-year-old lawyer, was elected to lead the governing Liberals at a convention last weekend. He replaced former Liberal leader Andrew Furey, who announced in February he would step down as premier after serving less than five years in office. Among those appointed to key portfolios are Siobhan Coady in finance, Krista Lynn Howell in health and Bernard Davis in education. John Haggie will serve as justice minister and Lisa Dempster has been appointed fisheries minister. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 9, 2025. The Canadian Press
