Kathy Corrigan

{{short description|Canadian politician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Kathy-Corrigan.jpg | name = Kathy Corrigan | honorific_suffix = | caption = | birth_date = 1953 | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario | assembly = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM = Burnaby-Deer Lake | term_start = May 12, 2009 | term_end = May 9, 2017 | predecessor = ''Riding Established'' | successor = Anne Kang | party = New Democratic Party | spouse = Derek Corrigan | children = 4 | occupation = Lawyer, policy researcher, politician }}

'''Kathy Corrigan''' is a Canadian politician who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 39th and 40th Parliament of British Columbia, from 2009 to 2017. As a member of the BC New Democratic Party, she was elected to represent the riding of Burnaby-Deer Lake in the 2009 provincial election and re-elected in the 2013 election. In both parliaments her NDP formed the official opposition and Corrigan acted as their critic on various issues, including 2010 Winter Olympics, women's issues, public safety, the Solicitor General and advanced education. During both the 2011 and the 2014 NDP leadership elections, Corrigan endorsed John Horgan. At the same time as she served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, her husband Derek Corrigan served as mayor of Burnaby.

==Background== She was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a mother who worked as a physics teacher and a father who worked as an engineer.<ref name=background>{{cite news |title=Burnaby's power couple; An up close and personal look at Derek and Kathy Corrigan |last=Moreau |first=Jennifer |author2=Pat Tracy |newspaper=Burnaby Now |date= September 13, 2008 |pages= 1, 11}}</ref> The family, which included Kathy and three siblings, moved to Cornwall, Ontario when she was three years old and then to West Vancouver in 1961.<ref name=background/> She graduated from Sentinel Secondary School when she was 16 years old and went on to study at the University of British Columbia.<ref name=profile>{{cite news |title=Burnaby-Deer Lake Election PROFILE: Kathy Corrigan |last=Granger |first=Grant |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |date= May 8, 2009 |pages= 5}}</ref> At the age of 21, she entered UBC Law.<ref name=background/> It was there, at a social event for law students in March 1976 that she met Derek Corrigan. They spent time together and were married in December. She graduated in 1978 and practiced law before having her first child in 1980, at the age of 26.<ref name=background/> She decided to focus on raising a family, so she became a full-time mother and had three more children in the next six years. After her children entered high school, Corrigan took a job as a policy researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Hospital Employees' Union.<ref name=profile/>

After several unsuccessful attempts, her husband Derek was elected to the Burnaby City Council in 1987 and would serve as a city councillor until 2002 when he was elected mayor. Derek's enjoyment of being a councillor motivated Kathy to seek a public position, so she stood in Burnaby's (School District 41) 1999 school board election.<ref name=profile/> She won a seat on the seven member board, coming in third in total votes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Detailed results from the Lower Mainland and key communities throughout B.C. |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |date= November 21, 1999 |pages= A12}}</ref> She was re-elected in the 2002 and 2005 elections, coming in first and second in total votes, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |title=Local Election Results 2002 |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |date= November 18, 2002 |pages= A9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ABCs oust Redman from school board seat |last=Granger |first=Grant |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |date= November 23, 2005 |pages= 3}}</ref> She was elected, each year, by the board to be the vice-chair from 2003 to 2006, and then to be the chair of the board in 2007 and 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Corrigan to lead board |last=Fontaine |first=Paul |newspaper=Burnaby Now |date= December 20, 2006 |pages= 10}}</ref> On school board issues, she resisted regionalization of school districts<ref>{{cite news |title=Centralization opposed |last=Myers |first=Christina |newspaper=Burnaby Now |date= October 30, 2004 |pages= 8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Board seeks improved support |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader|date= February 17, 2006 |pages= 6}}</ref> and public-private partnerships in service delivery.<ref>{{cite news |title=School board member opposes P3 plans |last=Myers |first=Christina |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date= November 21, 2006 |pages= B2}}</ref> She had a dispute with Burnaby MLA Patty Sahota over what Corrigan believed was political interference<ref>{{cite news |title=Sorry, no politics, we're trustees |last=Thomas |first=Mia |newspaper=Burnaby Now |date= September 15, 2002 |pages= 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sahota school squabble continues |last=Thomas |first=Mia |newspaper=Burnaby Now |date= September 22, 2002 |pages= 3}}</ref> and with a fellow board member who attributed good performance at school to specific ethnicities.<ref>{{cite news |title=The other Richard Lee backs Kathy Corrigan |last=Hilborn |first=Dan |newspaper=Burnaby Now |date= February 25, 2006 |pages= 3}}</ref>

==Provincial politics== Prior to becoming an MLA, Corrigan worked as a policy researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Hospital Employees' Union and as a lawyer previously. She graduated from the University of British Columbia Law School in 1978 and married fellow law student Derek Corrigan. After having their first child, Kathy decided to leave the law profession and become a homemaker. Derek went on to be elected to the Burnaby City Council in 1987 and become mayor in 2002, while Kathy was elected to the Burnaby School Board for three terms, between 1999 and 2008, where she also served as chair for two years.

In April 2008 she announced she would not be seeking reelection to the school board<ref>{{cite news |title=Kathy Corrigan to leave Bby board |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |date= April 18, 2008 |pages= 3}}</ref> and several days later announced she would her intention to be a candidate for the BC New Democratic Party in the next provincial election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kathy Corrigan to seek NDP nomination |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |last=Granger |first= Grant |date= April 29, 2008 |pages= 1}}</ref> The Burnaby-Deer Lake riding was created in a boundary re-alignment with BC Liberal John Nuraney as its incumbent MLA. Corrigan was acclaimed the NDP candidate in October 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Corrigan is NDP's choice for provincial race |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Larsen |first= Brooke |author2=Jennifer Moreau |date= October 25, 2008 |page= 10}}</ref> The riding was thought to be competitive for both the BC Liberals and NDP,<ref>{{cite news |title=Hotly contested Deer Lake campaign dominated by prison politics |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |last=Spencer |first= Kent |author2=Lora Grindlay |date= May 13, 2009 |page= A7}}</ref> as the boundary re-alignment and the incumbent MLA was believed to favour the BC Liberals, while Corrigan was considered a star candidate with name recognition from her time on the school board and with her husband winning re-election as mayor in November 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burnaby a prime provincial battleground |last=Granger |first=Grant |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |date= November 25, 2008 |page= 6}}</ref> The salient issue of the election was the site selection of a proposed remand (prison) centre. The site, located in the Burnaby-Deer Lake riding, was opposed by both Kathy and Derek Corrigan. The NDP hosted a public event to oppose locating the remand centre at the selected site<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP hosts prison meeting |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |last=Chow |first= Wanda |date= February 21, 2009 |page= 8}}</ref> and Burnaby City Council issued a resolution stating their opposition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prisons and politics: A fascinating mix |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Tracy |first= Pat |date= February 7, 2009 |page= 6}}</ref> While the incumbent MLA Nuraney defended it,<ref>{{cite news |title=Candidates spar over controversial Burnaby prison plan |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |last=Ward |first= Doug |date= March 9, 2009 |page= A3}}</ref> BC Solicitor-General John van Dongen announced the site selection would be re-considered with the advice of Metro Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news |title=Province steps back from Burnaby prison plan |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Hunter |first= Justine |author2=Frances Bula |date= March 25, 2009 |page= S1}}</ref> In the general election, in May 2009, Corrigan defeated two-term BC Liberals candidate Nuraney and BC Green Party candidate and retired business consultant Bruce Friesen,<ref>{{cite news |title=Greens eye running in Deer Lake |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Larsen |first= Brooke |date= January 17, 2009 |page= 3}}</ref> though the BC Liberals won a renewed majority government, with the NDP as the official opposition.

As the 39th Parliament began, she was appointed to the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts in all four sessions. NDP leader Carole James assigned Corrigan to be the critic for the 2010 Winter Olympics and ActNow BC, opposite Mary McNeil who was Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC. Corrigan would later add critic for women's issues to her duties. On Olympic issues, she criticized the provincial government for planning to spend $30 million in bonuses for VANOC employees,<ref>{{cite news |title=Vanoc staff to get $30m in bonuses after Games |last=Fowlie |first=Jonathan |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |date= October 16, 2009 |pages= A1}}</ref> though only half that was delivered due to a budget shortfall,<ref>{{cite news |title=Critics lambaste VANOC over bonuses shortfall |last=Mickleburgh |first=Rod |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date= January 28, 2011 |pages= A7}}</ref> and $1 million for tickets for MLAs and their guests while at the same time asking for lowering spending budget due to the 2008 recession.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ticket deal ruffles NDP feathers; Minister for Olympics defends the $1 million purchase as part of official hosting business |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Myers |first= Christina |date= October 28, 2009 |page= 1}}</ref> When the government claimed the Olympics had cost $925 million, which was $325 million over budget, Corrigan estimated that the actual cost was closer to $1.2 billion if indirect expenses, such as upgrades BC Place Stadium and the SkyTrain system, and the expenses associated with the 650 public service employees that were reassigned to the games, were factored in, and that VANOC should not have reported a balanced its budget with government transfers and crown sponsorships claimed as revenue.<ref>{{cite news |title=Games tab under $1-billion |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Matas |first= Robert |date= July 10, 2010 |page= A5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=B.C. taxpayers' Olympic cost: $925 million: World turmoil, high temperatures drove up cost from original estimate of $600M, says minister |newspaper=Toronto Star |last=Petti |first= Fong |date= July 10, 2010 |page= A4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Critics slam gov't over cost of Olympics; Say taxpayers misled because bill doesn't include costs of venues and infrastructure upgrades |newspaper=The Province |last=Inwood |first= Damian |location=Vancouver |date= July 11, 2010 |page= A17}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=VANOC budget balanced, audit reveals |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Mickleburgh |first= Rod |date= December 18, 2010 |page= A26}}</ref> She also asked for provincial and federal government advocacy directed at VANOC and the IOC over their decision not to include females in the ski jumping event.<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP urges Olympic protest; Judge says IOC, not VANOC, in charge of sports |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |last=Inwood |first= Damian |date= July 12, 2009 |page= A13}}</ref> Along with neighbouring NDP MLA Raj Chouhan, she co-wrote letters to editors and participated in public events opposing the Harmonized Sales Tax.<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP MLAs: Scrap HST |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Corrigan |first= Kathy |author2=Raj Chouhan |date= July 1, 2011 |page= 7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Local MLAs hold HST protest |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Lau |first= Alfie |date= September 9, 2009 |page= 8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Tax plan debated |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Myers |first= Christina |date= March 17, 2010 |page= 12}}</ref>

In Fall 2010, as an NDP caucus revolt unfolded, Corrigan remained loyal to party leader Carole James.<ref>{{cite news |title=James calls out critics, sets stage for showdown |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |last=Fowlie |first= Jonathan |author2=Doug Ward |date= December 3, 2010 |page= A1}}</ref> When Norm Macdonald resigned as caucus chair in protest of James' leadership, James assigned Corrigan to that position.<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP caucus chair resigns over Simpson expulsion |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |last=Fowlie |first= Jonathan |date= October 16, 2010 |page= A2}}</ref> After attempts at reconciliation within the caucus failed and James resigned as leader,<ref>{{cite news |title=Reconciliation in the works over provincial NDP leadership |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Mickleburgh |first= Rod |date= December 6, 2010 |page= S1}}</ref> Corrigan called the loss upsetting and sad.<ref>{{cite news |title=City MLA upset by resignation |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Moreau |first= Jennifer |date= December 8, 2010 |page= 1}}</ref> Interim leader Dawn Black reassigned Corrigan to be their critic on Public Safety and Solicitor General. While both Kathy and Derek Corrigan were cited as being viable candidates<ref>{{cite news |title=Julian eyeing provincial NDP; Burnaby-New West MP considering a run at B.C. leadership |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Moreau |first= Jennifer |date= December 11, 2010 |page= 5}}</ref> in the subsequent BC NDP leadership election, both declined and, in January 2011, endorsed John Horgan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Corrigans throw support behind Horgan |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Moreau |first= Jennifer |author2=Janaya Fuller-Evans |date= January 22, 2011 |page= 1}}</ref> After Adrian Dix won the leadership election, he kept Corrigan in her role as critic on women's issues and on Public Safety and Solicitor General.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dix's shadow cabinet includes all of the dissident 'Baker's Dozen' |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |last=Bailey |first= Ian |date= April 27, 2011 |page= S3}}</ref> She linked an $8 million cut to the court system in 2011, with the $6 million payment for legal fees to defend Dave Basi and Bob Virk in the BC Rail corruption case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Status quo B.C. budget not good enough: Corrigan |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |last=Chow |first= Wanda |date= February 16, 2011 |page= 1}}</ref> She advocated that the province should cover the full costs of the 2011 Stanley Cup riot review, rather than cost-sharing with the Metro Vancouver municipalities<ref>{{cite news |title=Clark accused of breaking riot vow; NDP blasts premier for asking municipalities to pick up probe tab |newspaper=The Province |location= Vancouver |last=Spencer |first= Kent |date= August 30, 2011 |page= A3}}</ref> and sought to have the Legislative Assembly join Ontario and Quebec in lobbying the federal government for funds to implement the proposed ''Safe Streets and Communities Act''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Crime bill could be costly: MLA |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Moreau |first= Jennifer |date= October 26, 2011 |page= 11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Liberals outflank NDP on crime and punishment |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |last=Palmer |first= Vaughn |date= November 3, 2011 |page= A3}}</ref> Corrigan challenged the Minister of Social Development, and Burnaby-Lougheed MLA, Harry Bloy over cuts to Community Living BC after a Burnaby family, with a son living with autism and Down syndrome, who had their support withdrawn sought help from Corrigan's office.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burnaby family at centre of MLAs' debate |newspaper=Burnaby Now |last=Fuller-Evans |first= Janay|date= May 20, 2011 |page= 5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Disabled youth left high and dry by CLBC: MLA Corrigan |newspaper=Burnaby News Leader |last=Chow |first= Wanda |date= May 24, 2011 |page= 5}}</ref> She also had a dispute with Christy Clark who had referred to a female NDP MLA as part of the NDP's "women's auxiliary", in reference to Clark's belief that the party did not allow women to speak on substantive issues in the Legislative Assembly, but which Corrigan found to be disrespectful towards the women in the NDP caucus.<ref>{{cite news |title=Clark dubs NDP women 'auxiliary' in bid to highlight inequality; MLA Kathy Corrigan says premier's remarks were 'sexist, offensive' |newspaper=The Vancouver Sun |last=Fowlie |first= Jonathan |date= October 27, 2011 |page= A13}}</ref>

Corrigan sought re-election in the 2013 provincial election. She was challenged by medical doctor Shian Gu for the BC Liberals and school teacher Rick McGowan for the BC Greens but was projected to easily win the riding.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tight race last time, but now? Who knows? |last=Hope |first=Niki |newspaper=Burnaby Now|date=May 10, 2013 |page=3}}</ref> Following the election Dix adjusted the critic roles so that Corrigan would focus on issues related to public safety and the Solicitor General. Following Dix's resignation as party leader, and her husband Derek declining to run, Corrigan endorsed John Horgan in the 2014 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burnaby MLAs back Horgan's efforts; Corrigan says Vancouver Island MLA a good fit to lead NDP |last=Dobie |first=Cayley |newspaper= Burnaby Now |date=March 26, 2014 |page=A3}}</ref> Once Horgan became leader he re-assigned Corrigan to be the critic on advanced education.<ref>{{cite news |title=Corrigan, Shin take on new critic roles in shadow cabinet shuffle |last=Moreau|first=Jennifer|newspaper= Burnaby Now |date=July 30, 2014 |page=A4}}</ref> Also that year, Derek won re-election as mayor of Burnaby.<ref>{{cite news |title=Corrigan coasts to fifth term; Incumbent takes around 70% of vote, party sweeps council, school positions |last=Carman |first=Tara |newspaper=The Province |location=Vancouver |date=November 16, 2014 |page=A11}}</ref> In 2016, the 62-year old Corrigan announced that she would not be seeking reelection in upcoming 2017 provincial election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burnaby MLA Corrigan says she won't run in upcoming election |last=Shaw |first=Rob |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |date= April 23, 2016 |page=A5}}</ref> In the subsequent election the NDP retained the seat with Anne Kang winning the riding.

==Electoral history== {{British Columbia provincial election, 2013/Burnaby-Deer Lake}}

{{British Columbia provincial election, 2009/Burnaby-Deer Lake}}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/39thParl/corriganK.htm Legislative Assembly of British Columbia] - Kathy Corrigan * [http://www.kathycorrigan.ca/ Member of the Legislative Assembly] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706183840/http://www.kathycorrigan.ca/ |date=2011-07-06 }} - Kathy Corrigan (Burnaby-Deer Lake) * [https://www.bcndp.ca/people/kathy-corrigan British Columbia New Democratic Party] - Kathy Corrigan

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Corrigan, Kathy}} Category:1953 births Category:Living people Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs Category:Canadian women lawyers Category:Lawyers in British Columbia Category:Burnaby city councillors Category:Politicians from Toronto Category:University of British Columbia alumni Category:Women MLAs in British Columbia Category:Women municipal councillors in British Columbia Category:Peter A. Allard School of Law alumni Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia