{{Short description|Canadian lawyer and politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | name = Geoff Plant | honorific_suffix = OBC KC | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|5|22}} | birth_place = Hamilton, Ontario<ref name="CPG">{{Cite web |title=Plant, Hon. Geoff, A.B., LL.B., LL.M. (Richmond Steveston) Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/international/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/plant-hon-geoff-ab-llb-llm-richmondsteveston-attorney-general-and-minister-responsible-treaty |publisher=Canadian Parliamentary Guide |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> | assembly = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM = Richmond-Steveston | term_start = May 28, 1996 | term_end = May 17, 2005 | predecessor = Allan Warnke | successor = John Yap | office1 = Attorney General of British Columbia | premier1 = Gordon Campbell | term_start1 = June 5, 2001 | term_end1 = June 16, 2005 | predecessor1 = Graeme Bowbrick | successor1 = Wally Oppal | office2 = Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations of British Columbia | premier2 = Gordon Campbell | term_start2 = June 5, 2001 | term_end2 = June 16, 2005 | predecessor2 = ''Position established'' | successor2 = Tom Christensen (Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation) | party = Liberal | alma_mater = Harvard University<br>University of Southampton<br>Dalhousie University<br>University of Cambridge | profession = lawyer }}
'''Geoff Plant''', {{postnominals|country=CAN|OBC|KC}} (born May 22, 1955) is a Canadian lawyer and retired politician known for his interest in citizen's legal and electoral rights and aboriginal rights. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing Richmond-Steveston from 1996 to 2005. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in the cabinet of Premier Gordon Campbell as Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations from 2001 to 2005.
==Background and career== Born in Hamilton, Ontario and raised in Vancouver, Plant received a B.A. from Harvard University in 1978 and law degrees from the University of Southampton in England in 1980, Dalhousie University in Halifax in 1981, and from the University of Cambridge in 1989.<ref name="CPG"/><ref name="BCGov040126">{{Cite web |title=Executive Council Biographies |url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/archive/2001-2005/2004otp0008-000052-attachment3.htm |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |date=2004-01-26 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> After serving as a clerk in the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa for a year,<ref>{{Cite news |title=From Citadel Heights to the Supreme Court |url=https://www.vicnews.com/community/from-citadel-heights-to-the-supreme-court-13548 |publisher=Victoria News |first=Todd |last=Coyne |date=2011-05-17 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> he was called to the British Columbia bar in 1982 and began practising in litigation, focusing on public and aboriginal law.<ref name="BCGov040126"/><ref name="GLGZ">{{Cite web |title=Geoff Plant, O.B.C., K.C. |url=https://www.glgzlaw.com/lawyer/geoffplant |publisher=Gall Legge Grant Zwack LLP |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref>
Plant was one of the eight members of the legal team representing the Attorney General of British Columbia in ''Delgamuukw v British Columbia'', 1991 BCSC 2372.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, 1991 CanLII 2372 (BC SC) |url=http://canlii.ca/t/1g2kh |website=CanLii |access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref> This case was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada in ''Delgamuukw v British Columbia'', [1997] 3 SCR 1010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, 1997 CanLII 302 (SCC), [1997] 3 SCR 1010 |url=http://canlii.ca/t/1fqz8 |website=CanLii |access-date=21 July 2020}}</ref>
==MLA and Attorney General== A resident of Richmond, British Columbia since 1984,{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Plant received the BC Liberal nomination to contest the riding of Richmond-Steveston in the 1996 provincial election, over the incumbent Allan Warnke.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lonely Life of the Independent MLA |url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2004/03/11/The_Lonely_Life_of_the_Independent_MLA/ |publisher=The Tyee |first=Chris |last=Tenove |date=2004-03-11 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> Plant was elected the riding's MLA with 56 per cent of the vote, and served as the opposition critic for justice and intergovernmental relations, as well as Liberal caucus whip.<ref name="BCGov040126"/> He shared an apartment in Victoria with Gordie Hogg and party leader Gordon Campbell during that time.<ref>'Broccoli minister' Hogg aims to drop 20 pounds:: [Final Edition] Inwood, Damian. The Province [Vancouver, B.C] 25 Aug 2006: A10.</ref>
Plant was re-elected with 69 per cent of the vote in the 2001 election, and was appointed to the cabinet that June to serve as the Attorney General of British Columbia and Minister responsible for Treaty Negotiations as part of Campbell's first-term government.<ref name="BCGov040126"/><ref name="CampbellCabinet">{{cite web|title=Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011 |url=https://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/reference/campbell_cabinet.pdf|publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> He oversaw the province-wide British Columbia Treaty Referendum in 2002 and the creation and oversight of the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. A policy change that affected whether domestic violence complaints would be automatically prosecuted did receive criticism from women's centres<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070207123513/http://www3.telus.net/bcwomen/archives/GeoffPlant_Aug_02.html BC Coalition of Women's Centres]</ref> and was noted by the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/issues/cedaw_ltrApril903_Plant.html |title=Letter from the B.C. CEDAW Group to the Honourable Geoff Plant, April 9 2003 |access-date=2007-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628183737/http://www.rapereliefshelter.bc.ca/issues/cedaw_ltrApril903_Plant.html |archive-date=2007-06-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Cuts to legal aid prompted the Law Society to censure him.<ref>[http://www.bcbusinessmagazine.com/displayArticle.php?archive=ARC&artId=309 Reality Check:Faced with funding cuts, non-profits are learning to become leaner, not meaner] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608042507/http://www.bcbusinessmagazine.com/displayArticle.php?archive=ARC&artId=309 |date=2007-06-08 }} By Ben Parfitt, Published November 2003, Retrieved May 17, 2007</ref> On the issue of polygamy in Bountiful, Plant cited constitutional concerns for religious rights but also formed an investigative team to research the situation.<ref>[http://www.childbrides.org/Canada_CBS_Canadian_home.html The Canadian Home of Polygamy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110102507/http://www.childbrides.org/Canada_CBS_Canadian_home.html |date=2007-11-10 }}, Fifth Estate, CBC, January 15, 2003, Retrieved on May 17, 2007</ref>
He was regarded as a moderate within Campbell's centre-right coalition who was keen on reforms for the legal, aboriginal treaty negotiation and electoral systems.<ref>[http://www.bcli.org/pages/about/5years/LR_Lecture_2003.pdf Law reform in British Columbia: A lecture sponsored by the BC Law Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007095533/http://www.bcli.org/pages/about/5years/LR_Lecture_2003.pdf |date=2007-10-07 }}, Speech by Geoff Plant, BC Law Institute, November 13, 2003, Retrieved on May 17, 2007</ref>
In March 2005, Plant announced his decision not to run for a second term in government at that year's provincial election, citing a wish to spend more time with his wife who was experiencing breast cancer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Geoff Plant and the B.C. Liberals' Exodus |url=https://thetyee.ca/Views/2005/03/14/GeoffPlantandBCExodus/ |publisher=The Tyee |first=Barbara |last=McLintock |date=2005-03-14 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> He encouraged his 2001 campaign chair John Yap to contest the Liberal nomination;<ref>{{Cite news |title=John Yap - Liberal - Richmond Steveston |url=https://www.richmond-news.com/election-2017-archive/john-yap-liberal-richmond-steveston-3050618 |publisher=Richmond News |date=2017-04-20 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> Yap went on to serve as MLA for Richmond-Steveston from 2005 to 2020.
==Post-politics== Upon his exit from provincial politics, he joined the law firm of Heenan Blaikie while maintaining government appointments as senior advisor in land and resource negotiations with the Council of the Haida Nation.<ref name="BCGov080416">{{Cite web |title=Geoff Plant appointed to B.C. Law Institute |url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2005-2009/2008AG0019-000542.htm |publisher=Ministry of Attorney General and Minister responsible for Multiculturalism of British Columbia |date=2008-04-16 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> He also taught as a sessional instructor at the University of Victoria Faculty of Law.<ref name="VanSun150430"/>
In 2006 Plant was appointed as a special advisor to the Premier and Minister of Advanced Education to lead a project called ''Campus 2020: Looking Ahead'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.campus2020.ca/EN/about_campus_2020/special_advisor_geoff_plant |title=Campus 2020: Looking Ahead |access-date=2007-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928093528/http://www.campus2020.ca/EN/about_campus_2020/special_advisor_geoff_plant |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the first comprehensive review of post-secondary education in British Columbia in over 40 years.<ref name="GLGZ"/> He made 52 recommendations in his report released in April 2007, including repealing the designation of university college and establishing regional universities;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campus 2020 maps out road to excellence |url=https://www.straight.com/article-87408/campus-2020-maps-out-road-to-excellence |publisher=Georgia Straight |first=Charlie |last=Smith |date=2007-04-25 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> he received $115,000 as compensation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.macleans.ca/education/universities/article.jsp?content=20070425_123339_9680 |title=Native education programs in BC get $65 million |publisher=Macleans |date=2007-04-25 |access-date=2007-05-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010052706/http://www.macleans.ca/education/universities/article.jsp?content=20070425_123339_9680 |archive-date=2007-10-10 }}</ref>
He was appointed by Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan in May 2007 to the newly created position of Civil City Commissioner, a part-time position controlling a budget of $300,000. The position would lead Project Civil City, the mayor's effort to enhance order in Vancouver's public areas by reducing homelessness, aggressive panhandling and the open drug market by at least 50 per cent by 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Former AG appointed as Vancouver's new 'crime czar' |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/former-ag-appointed-as-vancouver-s-new-crime-czar-1.692614 |publisher=CBC News |date=2007-05-17 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> There had been controversy regarding this position, with opposition city councillors Tim Stevenson and Raymond Louie expressing doubt as to its usefulness.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428981912&rem=79300&red=80198123aPBIny&wids=242&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm |title=Vancouver's civil city commissioner defending his job at city council |publisher=CKNW |date=2007-11-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071115010527/http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428981912&rem=79300&red=80198123aPBIny&wids=242&gi=1&gm=news_local.cfm |archive-date=2007-11-15 }}</ref> His appointment ended in February 2009.<ref name="GLGZ"/>
In 2008 he was appointed by Attorney General Wally Oppal to the British Columbia Law Institute to serve a three-year term.<ref name="BCGov080416"/> He joined the Canada West Foundation's board of directors in 2009, before becoming the board's chair in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Canada West Foundation appoints new leadership |url=https://cwf.ca/research/publications/the-canada-west-foundation-appoints-new-leadership/ |publisher=Canada West Foundation |date=2014-01-06 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> From 2010 to 2017, he served as chair of the board for Providence Health Care, the operator of St. Paul's Hospital.<ref name="GLGZ"/> He was named the BC government's chief legal strategist at the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines review hearings in September 2012.<ref name="GLGZ"/><ref>{{Cite news |title=B.C. sends former AG Geoff Plant to Enbridge hearings |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-sends-former-ag-geoff-plant-to-enbridge-hearings-1.1140394 |publisher=CBC News |date=2012-09-06 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref>
In May 2015 he became chancellor of Emily Carr University of Art and Design,<ref name="VanSun150430">{{Cite news |title=Former attorney-general Geoff Plant named chancellor of Emily Carr University |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/former-attorney-general-geoff-plant-named-chancellor-of-emily-carr-university |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |date=2015-04-30 |accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref> serving until 2021.<ref name="GLGZ"/> He also served on the BC Ferries board of directors for more than eight years, until being forced to resign in 2019 following the introduction of term limits.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New term limits force resignations of three BC Ferries board members |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/new-term-limits-force-resignations-of-three-bc-ferries-board-members/ |publisher=CTV News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2019-05-24 |access-date=2024-05-06}}</ref> As of 2024, he is a counsel with Gall Legge Grant Zwack LLP in Vancouver.<ref name="GLGZ"/>
Plant was made a Member of the Order of British Columbia in 2022.<ref name="OBC">{{cite press release|url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022IGRS0017-001161|date=August 1, 2022|title=B.C.'s highest honour recognizes 14 British Columbians|publisher=Government of British Columbia|accessdate=2024-05-06}}</ref>
==Personal life== Plant was born with a cleft palate and has visible results of corrective surgery. The congenital disorder's effect on his speech was not a barrier to his succeeding in law and politics, two careers that require skillful verbal communication.
He and his wife have two children.<ref name="BCGov040126"/>
==Electoral record== {{2001 British Columbia general election/Richmond-Steveston}} {{1996 British Columbia general election/Richmond-Steveston}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Gordon Campbell Ministry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Plant, Geoff}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton Category:Attorneys general of British Columbia Category:BC United MLAs Category:Clerks of the Supreme Court of Canada Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:Lawyers in British Columbia Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia Category:Members of the Order of British Columbia Category:People from Richmond, British Columbia Category:Politicians from Hamilton, Ontario Category:Politicians from Vancouver Category:Schulich School of Law alumni Category:20th-century Canadian lawyers Category:21st-century Canadian lawyers Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia