Quick Facts
Biography
Nicholas Simons is a Canadian politician. He is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, and member of the New Democratic Party.He represents the riding of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.
Politics
Simons was a candidate in the 2004 federal election, for the riding of West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast.While he was not elected, the experience convinced him to run in the provincial election the following year.In 2005, Simons was elected, and became the MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. He was re-elected in 2009.He is one of four openly gay members of the provincial legislature.
In the legislature, Simons has served as chair of the Caucus Social Policy Committee, critic for Tourism, Sport and the Arts, and as critic for the Ministry for Children and Family Development.
He is rumoured to be one of thirteen provincial caucus members who forced the resignation of Carole James from her position as leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party.James announced her resignation on December 6, after consulting with a group of caucus members opposed to her continued leadership.
He declared his candidacy in the 2011 leadership race on January 5, 2011.
Electoral record
| 2017 British Columbia general election: Powell River-Sunshine Coast | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||||
| New Democratic | Nicholas Simons | 13,646 | 50.70 | |||||
| Liberal | Mathew Wilson | 6,602 | 24.53 | |||||
| Green | Kim Darwin | 6,505 | 24.17 | |||||
| Cascadia | Reuben Richards | 160 | 0.59 | |||||
| Total valid votes | 26,913 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Source: Elections BC | ||||||||
| 2013 British Columbia general election: Powell River-Sunshine Coast | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures | |||
| New Democratic | Nicholas Simons | 13,120 | 55.20 | -3.08 | $66,335 | |||
| Liberal | Patrick Muncaster | 7,792 | 32.78 | -1.54 | $41,207 | |||
| Green | Richard Carl Till | 2,856 | 12.02 | +5.72 | $4,537 | |||
| Total valid votes | 23,768 | 100.00 | ||||||
| Total rejected ballots | 92 | 0.39 | ||||||
| Turnout | 23,860 | 63.24 | ||||||
| Source: Elections BC | ||||||||
Life before entering politics
Before entering politics, Simons worked as a child-protection social worker for the Ministry for Children and Family Development, as a financial assistance worker, and as the crime prevention coordinator for the Northwest Territories.He has been a consultant for the federal, Northwest Territories and First Nations governments in areas of law reform and child welfare.
He served as the executive director of health and social development for the Sechelt Nation from 1997 until his election in 2005. In this role he oversaw health, child welfare, alcohol and drugs, financial assistance and justice programs.He also negotiated funding for innovative preventative health and social services.
Simons is the son of musician Jan Simons. He is also a cellist, whose musical credits include several tracks on Rise Against's 2004 album Siren Song of the Counter Culture. Simons and Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson both perform on country-punk musician Slim Milkie's 2010 album Silverado; Milkie, whose real name is Scott Scobbie, is Simons' partner of nine years.