# Art Lee > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Art_Lee > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Art_Lee.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Lee > Source revision: 1347297838 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Vancouver_East_(federal_electoral_district)) | parliament1 = Canadian | predecessor1 = [Paddy Neale](/source/Paddy_Neale) | successor1 = [Margaret Mitchell](/source/Margaret_Mitchell_(Canadian_politician)) | term_start1 = July 8, 1974 | term_end1 = May 21, 1979 | office2 = Leader of the [British Columbia Liberal Party](/source/BC_United) | term_start2 = March 31, 1984 | term_end2 = October 30, 1987 | predecessor2 = [Shirley McLoughlin](/source/Shirley_McLoughlin) | successor2 = [Gordon Wilson](/source/Gordon_Wilson_(British_Columbia_politician)) | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|09|30}} | birth_place = [Lethbridge](/source/Lethbridge), [Alberta](/source/Alberta), Canada | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | party = [British Columbia Liberal Party](/source/British_Columbia_Liberal_Party)
[Liberal Party of Canada](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Canada) | relations = | children = | alma_mater = [University of Alberta Faculty of Law](/source/University_of_Alberta_Faculty_of_Law) | profession = Lawyer | portfolio = Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General of Canada (1976–1977)
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](/source/British_Columbia). He served as a [Liberal Party of Canada](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Canada) [member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(Canada)) (MP) representing [Vancouver East](/source/Vancouver_East_(federal_electoral_district)) from 1974 to 1979, and as the leader of the [British Columbia Liberal Party](/source/British_Columbia_Liberal_Party) from 1984 to 1987, becoming the first [Chinese Canadian](/source/Chinese_Canadian) to lead a provincial or federal political party. ==Background== Art Lee was born in [Lethbridge](/source/Lethbridge), [Alberta](/source/Alberta).{{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](/source/Parliament_of_Canada) |access-date=2021-01-08 }}{{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 }} His father Wilson Lee (b. 19 February 1919), ran a business in [Edmonton](/source/Edmonton) after serving in the [Royal Canadian Air Force](/source/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force), and his great-grandfather worked as a translator during the construction of the [Canadian Pacific Railway](/source/Canadian_Pacific_Railway).{{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 }} His paternal aunt [Jean Lee](/source/Jean_Lee_(aircraftwoman)) was the only woman of [Chinese-Canadian](/source/Chinese-Canadian) descent to serve in the [Royal Canadian Air Force](/source/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force)'s (RCAF) [Women’s Division](/source/Royal_Canadian_Air_Force_Women's_Division) during World War II.{{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}} After graduating from the [University of Alberta Faculty of Law](/source/University_of_Alberta_Faculty_of_Law) in 1972,{{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 }} he was called to the bar in [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia) in 1973, and joined the law firm of Frank Lew in [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver).{{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 }} As a fourth-generation Chinese Canadian, Art Lee was not fluent in the [Chinese language](/source/Varieties_of_Chinese). After becoming MP, he took [Cantonese](/source/Cantonese) lessons to facilitate communications with Chinese residents in his constituency.{{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 }} ==Political career== ===Federal politics=== Lee ran as a candidate of the [Liberal Party of Canada](/source/Liberal_Party_of_Canada) in the [1974 federal election](/source/1974_Canadian_federal_election), winning the riding of [Vancouver East](/source/Vancouver_East_(federal_electoral_district)) against incumbent [New Democratic Party](/source/New_Democratic_Party) (NDP) candidate [Paddy Neale](/source/Paddy_Neale) by just 57 votes.{{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 }} He served as [parliamentary secretary](/source/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. In the subsequent [1979 election](/source/1979_Canadian_federal_election), he lost the seat to NDP candidate [Margaret Mitchell](/source/Margaret_Mitchell_(Canadian_politician)), and again in [1980](/source/1980_Canadian_federal_election).{{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](/source/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 }} ===Provincial politics=== After [Shirley McLoughlin](/source/Shirley_McLoughlin) resigned as leader of the [British Columbia Liberal Party](/source/British_Columbia_Liberal_Party) in 1983, Lee won the [leadership election in 1984](/source/British_Columbia_Liberal_Party_leadership_elections) against three opponents.{{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 }}{{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](/source/The_Ubyssey) |first=Arnold |last=Hedstrom |date=1984-04-04 |access-date=2021-01-08 }} 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](/source/British_Columbia_Legislative_Assembly). Lee attempted to enter the legislature by running in the [Vancouver East](/source/Vancouver_East_(provincial_electoral_district)) by-election on November 8, 1984, but lost to [British Columbia New Democratic Party](/source/British_Columbia_New_Democratic_Party) candidate [Bob Williams](/source/Robert_Arthur_Williams).{{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](/source/Elections_British_Columbia) |date=1988 |access-date=2021-01-09 }} In the [1986 provincial election](/source/1986_British_Columbia_general_election), Lee ran for one of two seats in [Vancouver-Little Mountain](/source/Vancouver-Little_Mountain) alongside fellow Liberal candidate Joyce Statton; the seats were won by incumbent [Social Credit](/source/British_Columbia_Social_Credit_Party) candidates [Grace McCarthy](/source/Grace_McCarthy) and [Doug Mowat](/source/Doug_Mowat).{{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 }}{{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 }} The Liberals were once again shut out of the legislature, but the party won 6.74% of the popular vote, more than double what they had received in the [1983 election](/source/1983_British_Columbia_general_election).{{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 }} Thereafter Lee announced his resignation as party leader, staying on until [Gordon Wilson](/source/Gordon_Wilson_(British_Columbia_politician)) was acclaimed as the new Liberal leader in October 1987.{{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 }} ==Election results== ===Provincial=== {{CANelec/top|BC|1986|Vancouver-Little Mountain|percent=yes|elected=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|Social Credit|[Grace Mary McCarthy](/source/Grace_McCarthy)|18,049|22.15|elected=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|Social Credit|[Doug Mowat](/source/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](/source/Dave_Barrett)|percent=yes}} {{CANelec|BC|NDP|[Bob Williams](/source/Robert_Arthur_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= }} {{end}} ===Federal=== {{CANelec/top|CA|1980|Vancouver East|percent=yes|change=yes}} {{CANelec|CA|NDP|[Margaret Anne Mitchell](/source/Margaret_Mitchell_(Canadian_politician))|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](/source/Margaret_Mitchell_(Canadian_politician))|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](/source/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](/source/List_of_electoral_firsts_in_Canada) *[Chinese Canadians in Greater Vancouver](/source/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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Art Lee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Lee) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Lee?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.