{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1947)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Arthur John Lee | native_name = {{nobold|李僑棟}} | native_name_lang = zh-hant | honorific_suffix = | image = ArthurJLee.png | image_size = 180px | caption = Art Lee in 2011 | riding1 = Vancouver East | parliament1 = Canadian | predecessor1 = Paddy Neale | successor1 = Margaret Mitchell | term_start1 = July 8, 1974 | term_end1 = May 21, 1979 | office2 = Leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party | term_start2 = March 31, 1984 | term_end2 = October 30, 1987 | predecessor2 = Shirley McLoughlin | successor2 = Gordon Wilson | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|09|30}} | birth_place = Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | party = British Columbia Liberal Party<br />Liberal Party of Canada | relations = | children = | alma_mater = University of Alberta Faculty of Law | profession = Lawyer | portfolio = Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada (1976–1977)<br />Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs (1975–1976) }} {{Infobox Chinese |t=李僑棟 |s=李侨栋 |p=Lǐ Qiáodòng |j=Lei5 Kiu4 Dung6 }}
'''Arthur John Lee''' ({{Lang-zh|c=|s=|t=李僑棟|p=}}; born September 30, 1947) is a Canadian politician and lawyer based in British Columbia. He served as a Liberal Party of Canada member of Parliament (MP) representing Vancouver East from 1974 to 1979, and as the leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party from 1984 to 1987, becoming the first Chinese Canadian to lead a provincial or federal political party.
==Background== Art Lee was born in Lethbridge, Alberta.<ref name="parlinfo">{{cite web |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=8864 |title=Arthur John (Art) Lee, M.P. |publisher=Library of Parliament |access-date=2021-01-08 }}</ref><ref name="CT841106">{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-186198/page-8 |script-title=zh:來稿：支持李僑棟競選雲東區省議員 |trans-title=Letter: In support of Art Lee for Vancouver East MLA |author=林岳鋆 |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1984-11-06 |access-date=2021-01-08 |language=zh-hant }}</ref> His father Wilson Lee (b. 19 February 1919), ran a business in Edmonton after serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force,<ref name="CT841106"/> and his great-grandfather worked as a translator during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.<ref name="CT740627">{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-148950/page-2 |script-title=zh:來件：雲高華各選區自由黨國會議員候選人簡介 |trans-title=Letter: Brief profiles of Liberal MP candidates in Vancouver ridings |author=簡建平 |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1974-06-27 |access-date=2021-01-08 |language=zh-hant }}</ref> His paternal aunt Jean Lee was the only woman of Chinese-Canadian descent to serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) Women’s Division during World War II.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-10-17 |title=Jean Lee - Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society |url=https://www.ccmms.ca/veteran-stories/air-force/jean-lee/ |access-date=2025-08-29 |website=Chinese Canadian Military Museum Society - Loyal to Country |language=en}}</ref> After graduating from the University of Alberta Faculty of Law in 1972,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/N035520/N035520_djvu.txt |title=Full text of "University of Alberta Part Two of the Sixty-second Annual Convocation for the Conferring of Degrees - May 1972 - Spring Part II - 1972" |publisher=University of Alberta |access-date=2021-01-08 }}</ref> he was called to the bar in British Columbia in 1973, and joined the law firm of Frank Lew in Vancouver.<ref name="CT740627"/><ref name="CT861021">{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-246242/page-1 |script-title=zh:面對省選又肩負黨領職責 李僑棟談自由黨 |trans-title=Facing the provincial election and shouldering the responsibilities of party leader, Art Lee talks about the Liberals |author=林欣 |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1986-10-21 |access-date=2021-01-08 |language=zh-hant }}</ref>
As a fourth-generation Chinese Canadian, Art Lee was not fluent in the Chinese language.<ref name="CT861021"/> After becoming MP, he took Cantonese lessons to facilitate communications with Chinese residents in his constituency.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-165975/page-1 |script-title=zh:李僑棟下屆遇勁敵 |trans-title=Art Lee faces formidable opponent in the next election |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1978-02-06 |access-date=2021-01-08 |language=zh-hant }}</ref>
==Political career== ===Federal politics=== Lee ran as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada in the 1974 federal election, winning the riding of Vancouver East against incumbent New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Paddy Neale by just 57 votes.<ref name="parlinfo"/><ref name="CED">{{cite web |url=http://canadianelectionsdatabase.ca/PHASE5/?p=0&type=person&ID=17719 |title=Candidates: Arthur John Lee |publisher=Canadian Elections Database |access-date=2021-01-08 }}</ref> He served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs from 1975 to 1976, and as parliamentary secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada from 1976 to 1977.<ref name="parlinfo"/> In the subsequent 1979 election, he lost the seat to NDP candidate Margaret Mitchell, and again in 1980.<ref name="parlinfo"/><ref name="CED"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubyssey/UBYSSEY_1980_02_19.pdf |title=Pierre is 'Canada's Indira {{sic|G|handi|hide=y}}' |newspaper=The Ubyssey |page=16 |date=1980-02-19 |access-date=2021-03-10 |archive-date=June 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627135912/http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/ubyssey/UBYSSEY_1980_02_19.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Provincial politics=== After Shirley McLoughlin resigned as leader of the British Columbia Liberal Party in 1983, Lee won the leadership election in 1984 against three opponents.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-175161/page-1 |script-title=zh:卑詩自由黨大會 李僑棟膺選黨領 |trans-title=Art Lee elected leader at BC Liberal convention |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1984-04-02 |access-date=2021-01-08 |language=zh-hant }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/ubcpublications/ubysseynews/items/1.0126058#p24z-3r0f:art%20lee |title=Liberals meet at provincial conference |newspaper=The Ubyssey |first=Arnold |last=Hedstrom |date=1984-04-04 |access-date=2021-01-08 }}</ref> At that time, the party had little popular support due to its association with the federal Liberals, and it held no seats in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly. Lee attempted to enter the legislature by running in the Vancouver East by-election on November 8, 1984,<ref name="CT841106"/> but lost to British Columbia New Democratic Party candidate Bob Williams.<ref name="EBC">{{cite web |url=https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/1871-1986_ElectoralHistoryofBC.pdf |title=Electoral History of British Columbia 1871-1986 |publisher=Elections British Columbia |date=1988 |access-date=2021-01-09 }}</ref>
In the 1986 provincial election, Lee ran for one of two seats in Vancouver-Little Mountain alongside fellow Liberal candidate Joyce Statton;<ref name="CT861021"/> the seats were won by incumbent Social Credit candidates Grace McCarthy and Doug Mowat.<ref name="CED2">{{cite web |url=http://canadianelectionsdatabase.ca/PHASE5/?p=0&type=election&ID=379 |title=1986 British Columbia Election |publisher=Canadian Elections Database |access-date=2021-01-09 }}</ref><ref name="CT861023">{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-246192/page-1 |script-title=zh:卑詩省選昨揭曉 社信黨蟬聯執政 |trans-title=BC provincial election results revealed yesterday: Socreds stay in power |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1986-10-23 |access-date=2021-01-09 |language=zh-hant }}</ref> The Liberals were once again shut out of the legislature,<ref name="CT861023"/> but the party won 6.74% of the popular vote, more than double what they had received in the 1983 election.<ref name="CED2"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://canadianelectionsdatabase.ca/PHASE5/?p=0&type=election&ID=378 |title=1983 British Columbia Election |publisher=Canadian Elections Database |access-date=2021-01-09 }}</ref> Thereafter Lee announced his resignation as party leader, staying on until Gordon Wilson was acclaimed as the new Liberal leader in October 1987.<ref name="CT871027">{{cite web |url=http://chinesetimes.lib.sfu.ca/ctimes-241257/page-1 |script-title=zh:卑詩省自由黨 月底選新黨領 |trans-title=BC Liberals to choose new leader at the end of the month |publisher=The Chinese Times |date=1987-10-27 |access-date=2021-01-16 |language=zh-hant }}</ref>
==Election results== ===Provincial=== {{CANelec/top|BC|1986|Vancouver-Little Mountain|percent=yes|elected=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|Social Credit|Grace Mary McCarthy|18,049|22.15|elected=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|Social Credit|Doug Mowat|15,962|19.58|elected=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|NDP|Colin Patrick Kelly|15,717 |19.28}} {{CANelec|BC|NDP|Adrienne Hazel Peacock|15,407|18.90}} {{CANelec|BC|Liberal|Arthur John "Art" Lee |10,627|13.04}} {{CANelec|BC|Liberal|Joyce E. Statton|5,498|6.75}} {{CANelec|BC|People's Front|Dorothy Jean O'Donnell|128|0.16}} {{CANelec|BC|People's Front|Allan H. Bezanson|111|0.14}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|81,499|100.00}} {{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|1,219|}} {{CANelec/total|Turnout||}} {{end}}
{{CANelec/top|BC|November 8, 1984|Vancouver East (provincial electoral district)|Vancouver East|by=yes|reason=Resignation of Dave Barrett|percent=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|NDP|Bob Williams|12,857|55.50}} {{CANelec|BC|Liberal|Arthur John "Art" Lee|6,287|27.14}} {{CANelec|BC|Social Credit|Mario Caravetta|3,743|16.16}} {{CANelec|BC|Green|Hans-Joachim Grages|200|0.86}} {{CANelec|BC|Independent|David John Ford|79|0.34}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|23,166|100.00}} {{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|364|}} {{CANelec/total|Turnout|23,530|}} {{CANelec/source|hide=<ref name="EBC"/> }} {{end}}
===Federal=== {{CANelec/top|CA|1980|Vancouver East|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|CA|NDP|Margaret Anne Mitchell|14,245|43.91|+1.21}} {{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Arthur John "Art" Lee|12,979|40.01|+0.97}} {{CANelec|CA|PC|David N. Kilbey|4,742|14.62|-1.92}} {{CANelec|CA|Rhinoceros (historical)|Dandy Randy Lyttle|198|0.61|–}} {{CANelec|CA|Communist|J. Fred Wilson|179|0.55|+0.02}} {{CANelec|CA|Independent|Paul Tetreault|61|0.19|–}} {{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Chaouac Ferron|34|0.10|-0.03}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|32,438|100.0 }} {{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|+0.12}} {{end}}
{{CANelec/top|CA|1979|Vancouver East|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|CA|NDP|Margaret Anne Mitchell|13,697|42.71|+6.44}} {{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Arthur John "Art" Lee|12,522|39.04|+2.57}} {{CANelec|CA|PC|Cecil H. Leng|5,304|16.54|-8.91}} {{CANelec|CA|Social Credit|Carlo Dallavalle|334|1.04|–}} {{CANelec|CA|Communist|J. Fred Wilson|170|0.53|-0.59}} {{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Brian K. Sproule|44|0.14|-0.55}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|32,071|100.0 }} {{CANelec/gain|CA|NDP|Liberal|+1.94}} {{end}}
{{CANelec/top|CA|1974|Vancouver East|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Arthur J. "Art" Lee|9,671|36.48|+5.13}} {{CANelec|CA|NDP|C.P. Paddy Neale|9,614|36.26|-12.55}} {{CANelec|CA|PC|Hartley Hubbs|6,747|25.45|+8.91}} {{CANelec|CA|Communist|Maurice Rush|298|1.12|+0.38}} {{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Charles Boylan|181|0.68|–}} {{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|26,511|100.0 }} {{CANelec/gain|CA|Liberal|NDP|+8.84}} {{end}}
==See also== *List of electoral firsts in Canada *Chinese Canadians in Greater Vancouver
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Canadian Parliament links|ID=8864}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Art}} Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century members of the House of Commons of Canada Category:BC United candidates in British Columbia provincial elections Category:Canadian people of Chinese descent Category:Lawyers in British Columbia Category:Leaders of BC United Category:Liberal Party of Canada MPs Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia Category:People from Lethbridge County Category:Politicians from Vancouver Category:University of Alberta Faculty of Law alumni