Terry Beech

Terry Beech MP (born April 2, 1981) is a Canadian politician who was elected as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada to represent the federal electoral district of Burnaby North—Seymour[2] during the 2015 Canadian federal election.[3][4]

Terry Beech MP
Beech in 2019
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard
Incumbent
Assumed office December 12, 2019
Minister	Bernadette Jordan
Preceded by	Sean Casey
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
In office August 31, 2018 – September 11, 2019
Minister	Marc Garneau
Preceded by	Karen McCrimmon
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard
In office January 30, 2017 – August 31, 2018
Minister	Dominic Leblanc
Preceded by	Information unavailable
Succeeded by	Sean Casey
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science
In office December 2, 2015 – January 27, 2017
Minister	Kirsty Duncan
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Kate Young
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Burnaby North—Seymour
Incumbent
Assumed office October 19, 2015
Preceded by	New riding
Nanaimo City Councillor
In office December 6, 1999 – December 2, 2002
Personal details
Born	April 2, 1981[1] Comox, British Columbia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Ravi Bansal Beech
Children	1
Residence	Burnaby, British Columbia
Alma mater	Simon Fraser University Oxford University
Profession	Member of Parliament, Entrepreneur, Adjunct Professor

In 1999, Beech, then aged 18, was elected to the Nanaimo City Council, becoming British Columbia's youngest-ever elected official. He served on the council for three years, and did not seek re-election, instead moving to Burnaby to pursue a degree at Simon Fraser University. After completing a joint major in business and economics there, he attended Oxford University, finishing with an MBA. After finishing his education, he pursued a variety of business and charitable activities.

Beech was nominated as the Liberal candidate in Burnaby North—Seymour in July 2014, and won the election in the following October.[3]

From 2015 to 2017, Beech served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science. In January 2017, Beech was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. He held this role until August 2018, when he was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport.[5] On December 12, 2019, it was announced that Beech would once again serve as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.[6]

In November 2018, Beech was awarded Maclean's Magazine's Parliamentarian of the Year for Best Civic Outreach.[7]

Background

Beech was born in Comox, British Columbia, and moved to Victoria, British Columbia when he was one. His father worked as a janitor and his mother was a stay-at-home mom. While in Victoria, Beech attended Arbutus Junior High School before moving on to Mount Douglas Senior Secondary School. He later moved to Nanaimo, British Columbia, and attended John Barsby Secondary School. While in grade 12, he coached the debate team and sat on the board of the Harewood Community Project Society.

In 2006, Beech and his twin brother, Doug, founded a non-profit organization called Twinbro Local Leaders.[8] Twinbro was created to empower youth, and help them access post-secondary education, regardless of their social and economic background.[9]

While working on his MBA at Oxford University, Beech started tech company, HiretheWorld in his dorm room. In 2010, HiretheWorld won the BCIC New Ventures Competition, and in 2012, it was named one of BC Business Magazine's top 20 most innovative companies.[10]

Beech has taught entrepreneurship and finance courses as an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University[11] and the University of British Columbia,[12] and helped redesign the entrepreneurship program at Simon Fraser.

In 2010/11, Beech participated in the Action Canada program, where he co-authored, "Fueling Canada's Economic Success: A National Strategy for High-Growth Entrepreneurship.[13]"

Municipal Politics

Beech was elected to Nanaimo City Council in 1999 at age 18,[14] becoming British Columbia's youngest-ever elected official. While councillor, he sat on the Advisory Committee on the Environment, and the Joint Use Committee with School District 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith.

Burnaby North-Seymour Member of Parliament

Beech announcing elements of the Oceans Protection Plan

In the 2015 Canadian federal election, Beech defeated New Democratic Party candidate and former Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Carol Baird Ellan by 3,401 votes.[15] Beech also defeated Conservative Party candidate and now Mayor of the District of North Vancouver, Mike Little, by 4,326 votes.[15] After the election, Beech was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science.[5] In January 2017, Beech was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.[5] During is tenure, Beech worked on the modernization of Canada's Fisheries Act. Part of that work included changes to the Act that restored prohibitions against the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat ("HADD").[16] Beech also worked on Bill C-55, An Act to amend the Oceans Act and the Canada Petroleum Resources Act, which outlined new steps for the creation and regulation of Marine Protected Areas.[17] Beech held this role until August 2018, when he was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport.[5] While at Transport, Beech worked closely on Bill C-64 - Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, which addressed irresponsible vessel management.[18]

In 2018, Beech was awarded Parliamentarian of the Year for Best Civic Outreach.[19] These awards are voted on by Members of Parliament from all Parties. Beech attributes winning this award to his efforts to engage with constituents and by perpetually knocking on doors in his riding.[20]

In the 2019 Canadian federal election, Beech quashed the comeback attempt of New Democratic Candidate, Svend Robinson, who had previously served as MP in Burnaby from 1979-2004.[21] Beech also defeated Heather Leung, a candidate who was dropped by the Conservative Party after controversial videos featuring Leung surfaced in October 2019.[22]

On December 12, 2019, Beech was once again named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and Canadian Coast Guard.[6]

On February 4, 2020, Beech was chosen by fellow caucus members to become the Chair of the Federal Liberal Pacific Caucus, compose of Liberal MPs from British Columbia.[23]

Electoral record

2019 Canadian federal election: Burnaby North—Seymour
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Terry Beech	17,770	35.5	-0.59
	New Democratic	Svend Robinson	16,185	32.3	+2.69
	Conservative	Heather Leung	9,734	19.4	-8.44
	Green	Amita Kuttner	4,801	9.6	+4.33
	People's	Rocky Dong	1,079	2.2	–
	Independent	Robert Taylor	271	0.5	–
	Libertarian	Lewis Dahlby	219	0.4	-0.08
Total valid votes/Expense limit			50,059	100.0
Total rejected ballots			466
Turnout			50,525	65.4
Eligible voters			77,301
	Liberal hold		Swing		-1.64
Heather Leung was dropped by the Conservative Party of Canada after past homophobic remarks were made public,[24] but still appeared on the ballot papers.
Source: Elections Canada[25][26]

2015 Canadian federal election: Burnaby North—Seymour
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	Liberal	Terry Beech	18,938	36.09	+20.37	$112,731.67
	New Democratic	Carol Baird Ellan	15,537	29.61	-5.55	$151,963.09
	Conservative	Mike Little	14,612	27.84	-16.39	$74,815.44
	Green	Lynne Quarmby	2,765	5.27	+1.39	$104,104.37
	Libertarian	Chris Tylor	252	0.48	–	–
	Independent	Helen Hee Soon Chang	207	0.39	–	$1,011.85
	Communist	Brent Jantzen	126	0.24	–	–
	Marxist–Leninist	Brian Sproule	43	0.08	–	–
Total valid votes/Expense limit			52,480	100.00		$206,738.46
Total rejected ballots			260	0.49	–
Turnout			52,740	70.34	–
Eligible voters			74,982
	Liberal gain from Conservative		Swing		+18.38
Source: Elections Canada[27][28][29]

Personal life

In 2013, Beech married his wife, Ravi Bansal Beech, who is the COO of Valley Acrylic Bath Ltd, and one of the 2018 Business in Vancouver's 40 under 40.[30] They have one daughter together, Nova, born on December 4, 2018 at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.[31]

References

2. "Expenditures by Member - Selection of Members". www.parl.gc.ca. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
3. "Liberal Terry Beech wins Burnaby North-Seymour". CBC News. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
4. "Canada election 2015: List of elected B.C. candidates". CBA News. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
5. "Roles - Terry Beech - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada". www.ourcommons.ca.
6. https://pm.gc.ca/en/parliamentary-secretaries
7. "Terry Beech: The perpetual door-knocker - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca.
8. Bjornson, Leah. "Former professor to represent Burnaby North-Seymour riding | The Peak".
9. "Twinbro - Mission and History". www.twinbro.com.
10. "Beedie alumnus and MP Terry Beech named Young Global Leader - SFU News - Simon Fraser University". www.sfu.ca.
11. "Beedie alumnus and MP Terry Beech named Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum | Ideas@Beedie". beedie.sfu.ca.
13. "Task Force on A National Strategy for High Growth Entrepreneurship".
14. "Terry Beech (Liberal/Burnaby North-Seymour): This wunderkind was Canada's youngest city councillor when elected in Nanaimo at age 18. A decade and a half later he could add Oxford MBA, entrepreneur, professor, philanthropist and now MP to his resumé after his surprise victory in a riding the Liberals had no expectation of winning when the election was called". www.vancouversun.com.
15. "Official Voting Results". www.elections.ca.
16. February 20, Lauren E. Cook on; 2018. "The Return of the HADD: Canada's Proposed Amendments to the Fisheries Act | Project Law Blog". www.lawsonlundell.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
17. Government of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2019-08-01). "Changes to the Oceans Act". www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
18. "LEGISinfo - House Government Bill C-64 (42-1)". www.parl.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
19. "Parliamentarians of the Year awards 2018 in pictures - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
20. "Terry Beech: The perpetual door-knocker - Macleans.ca". www.macleans.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
21. Canada, Elections. "Election Night Results - Electoral Districts". enr.elections.ca. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
22. "Turfed B.C. Conservative candidate Heather Leung speaks out | Watch News Videos Online". Global News. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
23. "Terry Beech, MP". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-07-29.
24. Baker, Rafferty (3 October 2019). "Conservatives eject B.C. candidate over 'offensive' comments about LGBTQ people". CBC News. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
25. "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
26. "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
27. Elections Canada – Confirmed candidates for Burnaby North—Seymour, 30 September 2015
28. Official Voting Results - Burnaby North—Seymour
29. "Elections Canada – Preliminary Election Expenses Limits for Candidates". Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
30. "Ravi Beech". Business in Vancouver.
31. Campbell, Chris (March 3, 2019). "MP tells House of Commons about how New West NICU saved his baby". New West Record. Retrieved October 5, 2019.