View source for Fin Donnelly

{{Short description|Canadian politician (born 1966)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Fin Donnelly
| honorific-suffix = 
| image        = Fin Donnelly BC NDP.png
| caption      = 
| cabinet      = 
| birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1966|5|27}}
| birth_place  = [[New Westminster]], [[British Columbia]]
| death_date   =
| death_place  =
| profession   = 
| party        = [[New Democratic Party|New Democrat]]
| party colour =
| residence    = [[Coquitlam]], [[British Columbia]]
| office       = Parliamentary Secretary for Watershed Restoration of [[British Columbia]]
| term_start   = January 20, 2023
| term_end     = November 18, 2024
| premier      = [[David Eby]]
| predecessor  = ''Position created''
| successor    = ''Position abolished''
| office1      = Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture of [[British Columbia]]
| term_start1  = November 26, 2020
| term_end1    = December 7, 2022
| premier1     = [[John Horgan]] <br /> [[David Eby]]
| predecessor1 = ''Position created''
| successor1   = [[Kelly Greene]]
| assembly2    = British Columbia Legislative
| constituency_AM2 = [[Coquitlam-Burke Mountain]]
| term_start2  = October 24, 2020
| term_end2    = September 21. 2024
| predecessor2 = [[Joan Isaacs]]
| successor2   = [[Jodie Wickens]]
| parliament3  = Canadian
| riding3      = [[Port Moody—Coquitlam (federal electoral district)|Port Moody—Coquitlam]]<br /><small>[[New Westminster—Coquitlam]] (2009-2015)</small>
| term_start3  = November 9, 2009
| term_end3    = September 11, 2019
| predecessor3 = [[Dawn Black]]
| successor3   = [[Nelly Shin]]
| office4      = [[Coquitlam City Council|Coquitlam city councillor]]
| term_start4  = December 2, 2002
| term_end4    = November 26, 2009
| predecessor4 =
| successor4   =
| spouse       = Lynda Donnelly
| website      = [http://www.findonnelly.ca Official website]
}}

'''Fin Donnelly''' (born May 27, 1966) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician. He has served as the [[member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) of [[British Columbia]] for the [[electoral district (Canada)|electoral district]] of [[Coquitlam-Burke Mountain]] since 2020, as part of the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party]] (BC NDP) caucus. He previously served as [[Member of Parliament (Canada)|member of Parliament]] (MP) as part of the [[New Democratic Party|federal NDP]] caucus, representing [[New Westminster—Coquitlam]] from 2009 to 2015, and [[Port Moody—Coquitlam (federal electoral district)|Port Moody—Coquitlam]] from 2015 to 2019.

Prior to his election as a federal MP, he served as [[Coquitlam]] [[Coquitlam City Council|city councillor]] from 2002 to 2009. Before that, Donnelly was a [[Marathon swimming|marathon swimmer]] from 1990 to 2002, during which time he swam the length of the [[Fraser River]] twice, as well as the [[Strait of Georgia]], the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]], and across [[Pitt Lake]], [[Okanagan Lake]], and [[Quesnel Lake]].

==Early life and municipal politics==
Born in [[New Westminster]],<ref name="Parlinfo">{{cite web |title=Profile - Donnelly, Fin |publisher=Library of Parliament |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=17760 |accessdate=2023-03-17 }}</ref> he graduated from the [[University of Victoria]] in 1989 with a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy and a minor in environmental studies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biographical information for New West-Coquitlam |last=McKenna |first=Gary |newspaper=The Tri City News |location=[[Coquitlam|Coquitlam, British Columbia]] |date=April 5, 2011 |page=1}}</ref> He swam competitively for 16 years in his college<ref name=GeorgiaSwim>{{cite news |title=Gunning for a swim record: Ex-champ in good-cause splash |last=McIntyre |first=Greg |newspaper=The Province |location=[[Vancouver]] |date=August 23, 1991 |page=3}}</ref> and completed 14 [[Marathon swimming|marathon swims]] between 1990 and 2000, including across [[Pitt Lake]], [[Okanagan Lake]], [[Williams Lake (British Columbia)|Williams Lake]], [[Quesnel Lake]], and down the [[Raush River]].<ref name=FraserSwim/> He swam across the [[Strait of Georgia]] four times, including in 1991 when he swam from [[Sechelt]] to [[Nanaimo]] in a benefit swim for the Georgia Strait Alliance.<ref name=GeorgiaSwim/> In 1994 he swam the [[Strait of Juan de Fuca]], from [[Port Angeles, Washington|Port Angeles]] to [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Swimmer sets record crossing chilly Strait |last=Hunter |first=Justine |newspaper=[[The Vancouver Sun]] |date=August 18, 1994 |page=B5}}</ref> In 1995, and again in 2000, Donnelly swam the length of the 1,325&nbsp;km [[Fraser River]], from [[Mount Robson Provincial Park]] to Vancouver, ending in [[False Creek]].<ref name=FraserSwim>{{cite news |title=The man who swam the salmon route: Fin Donnelly, who calls himself an environmental marathon swimmer, has made a 29&nbsp;day, 1,357&nbsp;kilometre journey down the Fraser River |last=van Peenen |first=Paul |newspaper=[[National Post]] |date=October 18, 2000 |page= A18}}</ref> Many of his marathon swims were used to raise awareness of local issues affecting the rivers and lakes and their [[drainage basin|watershed]]s, and raise funds for non-profit groups concerned with the protection or restoration of those rivers and watersheds. Donnelly founded the non-profit organization Rivershed Society of British Columbia in 1996 and worked as its executive director.<ref name="New Westminster News Leader">{{cite web|last=Granger|first=Grant|title=New Westminster News Leader – Turning the Fraser into a classroom|url=http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/167712145.html|work=New Westminster News Leader|publisher=New Westminster News Leader|access-date=June 29, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Strandberg|first=Diane|title=Coquitlam MLA and Fraser River champion picked for Hall of Fame|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/coquitlam-mla-and-fraser-river-champion-picked-for-hall-of-fame-4492501 |publisher=TriCity News|access-date=2023-03-17 |date=2021-10-09}}</ref>

In 2002, at the age of 36, Donnelly decided to seek election to the [[Coquitlam City Council]]. His high profile swims and campaign focused on sustainable development made him a likely candidate to upset one of the incumbents.<ref>{{cite news |title=Four, so far, will challenge incumbents |last=Robb |first=Leneen |newspaper=Coquitlam Now |date=October 2, 2002 |page= 6}}</ref> Donnelly and Barrie Lynch were both successful in gaining a seat on council, upsetting two of the incumbents, though Donnelly's campaign manager, Cameron Lipp, unexpectedly died two weeks before the election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wins by Donnelly, Lynch break 5-4 Coquitlam split |last=Robb |first=Leneen |newspaper=Coquitlam Now |date=November 20, 2002 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Well-known B.C. environmentalist Cameron Lipp dead at 42 |newspaper=Coquitlam Now |date=November 6, 2002 |page=12}}</ref> In his first term on council, Donnelly put forth a successful motion that the city send a letter to its [[sister city]], [[Laizhou]] in China, expressing concern over the [[persecution of Falun Gong]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor says letter will ruin trade relationship |last=Gracey |first=Ken |newspaper=Coquitlam Now |date=October 22, 2003 |page= 9}}</ref> In the [[2005 British Columbia municipal elections|2005 council election]], the four councillors that stood for re-election won, including Donnelly who received the most votes over all other candidates.<ref>{{cite news |title=Four new councillors in Coquitlam |last=Robb |first= Leneen |newspaper= Coquitlam Now |date=November 23, 2005 |page=3}}</ref>  In the [[2008 British Columbia municipal elections|2008 council election]], Donnelly again obtained the most votes in the council election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Council to set aside differences |last=Simpson |first=Scott |newspaper=[[The Vancouver Sun]] |date=November 17, 2008 |page=A7}}</ref>

==Federal politics==
The 43 year-old Donnelly entered federal politics after his local member of parliament [[Dawn Black]] vacated her seat in April 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet your byelection candidates |last=Kurucz |first=John |newspaper=The Record |location=[[New Westminster, British Columbia]] |date=November 7, 2009 |page=3}}</ref> In a June NDP constituency meeting Donnelly won the party's nomination on the first ballot against fellow Coquitlam city councillor Barrie Lynch and [[New Westminster]] councillor Lorrie Williams.<ref>{{cite news |title=By-election in Coquitlam or Port Moody? |last=Warren |first=Janis |newspaper=The Tri City News |location=[[Coquitlam|Coquitlam, British Columbia]] |date=28 July 2009 |page=1}}</ref> Port Moody councillor Diana Dilworth won the Conservative Party nomination, civil and environmental engineer Ken Beck Lee won the Liberal Party nomination,<ref>{{cite news |title=Lee to carry Liberal banner in New Westminster-Coquitlam |last=Warren |first=Janis |newspaper=The Tri City News |location=[[Coquitlam|Coquitlam, British Columbia]] |date=August 6, 2009 |page=3}}</ref> and Rebecca Helps was acclaimed as the Green Party nominee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Grits, Greens pick candidates for New West-Coquitlam byelection |newspaper= Coquitlam Now |location=[[Coquitlam|Coquitlam, British Columbia]] |date=August 7, 2009 |page=2}}</ref> The [[by-election]] was called for November 9 and Donnelly, who was supported by campaign visits by party leader [[Jack Layton]], and Dilworth were considered the front-runners.<ref>{{cite news |title=Conservatives running quiet campaign for Monday's byelection; NDP's Donnelly, Tory Diana Dilworth face off in New Westminster-Coquitlam |last=Ward |first=Doug |newspaper= [[The Vancouver Sun]] |date=November 7, 2009 |page=A2}}</ref> With only a 30% voter turnout, Donnelly won the by-election with 50% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP's Donnelly wins federal byelection; Anti-HST sentiment tipped scales |last=Chan |first=Cheryl |newspaper=The Province |location=[[Vancouver]] |date=November 10, 2009 |page=A8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kimmett|first=Colleen|title=NDP's Donnelly swims to Ottawa|url=https://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Federal-Politics/2009/11/10/DonnellySwims/ |publisher=[[The Tyee]]|access-date=2023-03-17 |date=2009-11-10}}</ref> Since being elected in 2009, Donnelly has been active on a number of different issues of concern to British Columbians, particularly those focused on society, the environment, and the economy.

===40th Parliament===
Donnelly entered the [[40th Canadian Parliament]] during its third session, which lasted one year; he was named the NDP's [[Fisheries and Oceans Canada|national fisheries]] critic.<ref>{{cite news |title=New MLA moves into critic seat in Ottawa |last=Lau |first=Alfie |newspaper=The Record |location=[[New Westminster, British Columbia]] |date=December 5, 2009 |page= 1}}</ref> During that year he sponsored six private member bills, none of which advanced far enough to be voted upon. He sponsored two amendments to the [[Criminal Code (Canada)|Criminal Code]], both of which [[Dawn Black]] had previously introduced in the previous parliament: [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/bill/C-520/first-reading Bill C-520] would have added the offence of luring a child to those offenses prosecutable in Canada even if committed outside Canada, and [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/bill/C-521/first-reading Bill C-521] would have expanded the offence of luring a child to include all means of communication rather than solely through a computer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bills target child luring, abuse; City MP wants feds to close loopholes in the Criminal Code |last=Mcmanus |first=Theresa |newspaper=The Record |location=[[New Westminster, British Columbia]] |date=June 23, 2010 |page=9}}</ref> In March 2010, he introduced [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/bill/C-502/first-reading Bill C-502] that would prohibit oil tankers in the [[Dixon Entrance]], [[Hecate Strait]] and [[Queen Charlotte Sound (Canada)|Queen Charlotte Sound]]. In May 2010, he introduced  [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/bill/C-518/first-reading Bill C-518] which proposed to amend the ''[[Fisheries Act]]'' to require commercial [[finfish]] [[aquaculture]] only take place in closed containment facilities. He also proposed [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/40-3/bill/C-526/first-reading Bill C-526] that would have expanded [[Unemployment benefits|Employment Insurance]] coverage received as a result of illness, injury or quarantine from 15 to 52 weeks.

===41st Parliament===
[[File:Fin Donnelly.jpg|thumb|150px|Fin Donnelly in 2011]]

For the [[2011 Canadian federal election|2011 election]], Donnelly was acclaimed as the NDP candidate<ref>{{cite news |title=Donnelly acclaimed as NDP candidate |last=Coyne |first=Todd |newspaper=The Tri City News |location=[[Coquitlam|Coquitlam, British Columbia]] |date=November 30, 2010 |page=13}}</ref> and again challenged by Dilworth, Lee, and Helps, as well as Roland Verrier for the Marxist–Leninist Party.<ref>{{cite news |title=Your federal candidates: New Westminster-Coquitlam |last=Kurucz |first=John |newspaper=Coquitlam Now |location=[[Coquitlam|Coquitlam, British Columbia]] |date=April 22, 2011 |page=3}}</ref> This time with 60% voter turnout, Donnelly won the riding with 46% of the vote,<ref>{{cite web|last=Coyne|first=Todd|title=Updated: Fin is in again in New Westminster-Coquitlam|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/updated-fin-is-in-again-in-new-westminster-coquitlam-3006452 |publisher=TriCity News|access-date=2023-03-17 |date=2011-05-02}}</ref> and his party formed the [[Official Opposition (Canada)|official opposition]] to a Conservative Party majority government. He was re-appointed as critic on [[Fisheries and Oceans Canada|Fisheries and Oceans]] by party leader [[Jack Layton]] in the [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet of the 41st Parliament of Canada|NDP shadow cabinet]] of the [[41st Canadian Parliament]].

Donnelly re-introduced, all in 2011, the six private member bills he introduced in the previous parliament. While none of the bills again advanced far enough to be voted upon, the two proposed amendments to the Criminal Code regarding luring a child were adopted in the ''[[Safe Streets and Communities Act]]''. In December 2011, Donnelly sponsored a new private member bill, the ''Ban on Shark Fin Importation Act'' [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/41-1/bill/C-380/first-reading (Bill C-380)], but it was defeated at second reading in March 2013 with the Conservative Party majority voting against it.

In the [[2012 New Democratic Party leadership election|2012 NDP leadership election]] triggered by Layton's death, Donnelly endorsed [[Nathan Cullen]].<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP girds for final debate; B.C. expected to play a big role in electing the successor to the late Jack Layton |last=O'Neil |first=Peter |author2=Ward, Doug |newspaper=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|The Gazette]] |location= [[Montreal]] |date=March 10, 2012 |page=A10}}</ref> [[Tom Mulcair]] won the election to become party leader, and moved Donnelly to critic of [[Western Economic Diversification Canada|Western Economic Diversification]];<ref>{{cite news |title=City MPs get seats in shadow cabinet |last=McManus |first= Theresa |newspaper=The Record |location=[[New Westminster, British Columbia]] |date=April 25, 2012 |page=3}}</ref> Donnelly also became assistant critic in his original portfolio of Fisheries and Oceans.<ref name="Parlinfo"/> In August 2013, Mulcair re-assigned Donnelly to be the assistant critic to both Fisheries and Oceans and [[Infrastructure and Communities]] for the remainder of the parliament.<ref name="Parlinfo"/>

====Alan Kurdi====
On September 3, 2015, after the [[death of Alan Kurdi]], Donnelly stated that he had handed a letter from his constituent [[Tima Kurdi]], Alan Kurdi's aunt, to Immigration Minister [[Chris Alexander (politician)|Chris Alexander]] requesting that he look into the case of Alan Kurdi's refugee application, which was later rejected according to Donnelly.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/chris-alexander-suspends-campaign-after-news-that-canada-rejected-drowned-boys-refugee-application | title=Canada says it never denied a refugee application for Alan Kurdi and his family | publisher=[[National Post]] | date=3 September 2015 | access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> On the same day, it was reported that Alan Kurdi's family had not in fact applied for refugee status in Canada, and that the letter primarily concerned the family of Alan Kurdi's uncle, for whom an application had been submitted but been rejected for being incomplete.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2015/09/03/canada-rejected-request-to-take-in-family-of-drowned-syrian-boy.html | title=Tima Kurdi's pleading letter to allow brother to enter Canada revealed | publisher=[[Toronto Star]] | date=3 September 2015 | access-date=4 September 2015 | author=Kestler-D’Amours, Jillian, Tonda MacCharles, and Jacques Gallant}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/syria-migrants-canada-drowned-migrants-1.3213772 | title=Father of Alan Kurdi, drowned Syrian boy, describes desperate ordeal to save family | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=3 September 2015 | access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> Donnelly subsequently faced criticism for his role in the spread of the false information regarding Alan Kurdi's family's nonexistent refugee application.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/09/06/fin-donnelly-syria-refugees-chris-alexander_n_8095580.html | title=Fin Donnelly Bemoans 'Political Attacks' After Syrian Refugees' Deaths | publisher=[[Huffington Post Canada]] | date=6 September 2015 | access-date=6 September 2015 | author=Maloney, Ryan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/fin-donnelly-ndp-mp-stands-by-attempts-to-help-kurdi-family-s-refugee-application-1.3218648 | title=Fin Donnelly, NDP MP, stands by attempts to help Kurdi family's refugee application | publisher=[[CBC News]] | date=7 September 2015 | access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref> Mulcair later defended Donnelly, saying that no apology was warranted because the letter had mentioned both families, and stated that he "couldn’t be prouder to have someone of the strength, integrity and hard work as Fin Donnelly" in caucus.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/election/mulcair-stands-behind-donnelly-after-kurdi-family-confusion-1.2558642 | title=Mulcair stands behind Donnelly, after Kurdi family confusi | publisher=[[CTV News]] | date=11 September 2015 | access-date=11 September 2015}}</ref> On September 10 the [[Ottawa Citizen]] reported that: "Abdullah Kurdi’s brother Mohammad and his family were named in a G5 refugee resettlement application, while simultaneously, Abdullah and his now-dead wife and children were included and named along with Mohammad’s family in a lengthy set of correspondence, over a period of months, to Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and senior CIC officials."<ref>Ottawa Citizen, Sept 10, 2015, from page "Canada's Leaders need to face to the tragedy" by Terry Glavin</ref>

===42nd Parliament===
New electoral districts in the [[Greater Vancouver]] area, added for the [[2015 Canadian federal election|2015 election]], resulted in Donnelly moving to the re-created [[Port Moody—Coquitlam (federal electoral district)|Port Moody—Coquitlam]] riding, effectively shifting his representative area northwards by removing [[New Westminster]] and adding the entirety of [[Port Moody]]. In the election, Donnelly was challenged by City of Vancouver's chief digital officer Jessie Adcock for the Liberal Party, Canadian Forces veteran Tim Laidler for the Conservative Party,<ref>{{cite news |title=Hundreds take political plunge despite bad rap |last=Bryden |first= Joan |newspaper= Prince George Citizen |location=[[Prince George, British Columbia]] |date=December 29, 2014 |page=A15}}</ref> and Green Party member Marcus Madsen, as well as Roland Verrier of the Marxist–Leninist again. Though Donnelly won his riding with 36% of the vote,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://globalnews.ca/news/2281348/who-won-in-riding-of-port-moody-coquitlam-federal-election-2015-results/ | title=NDP candidate Fin Donnelly elected in Port Moody-Coquitlam | publisher=[[Global News]] | date=2015-10-20 | access-date=2023-03-17 | last=Judd| first=Amy}}</ref> the Liberal Party won the general election and formed a majority government, with the Conservative Party taking over the official opposition status and the NDP as the third party. With a reduced number of MPs, party leader Tom Mulcair appointed Donnelly to be the NDP critic for [[Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard|Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard]],<ref name="NDP 42nd Critics">{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/ndp-critics-list-mulcair-thursday-1.3315431 | title=Tom Mulcair taps Nathan Cullen, Charlie Angus, Guy Caron for top critic roles | publisher=[[The Canadian Press]] | work=[[CBC News]] | date=12 November 2015 | access-date=12 November 2015 | last=Kirkup| first=Kristy}}</ref> a post he previously held in 2009-2012 and since acted as deputy to.

In the [[42nd Canadian Parliament]] he again sponsored the private member bill [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-228/first-reading C-228] which proposed to amend the ''Fisheries Act'' to require commercial [[finfish]] [[aquaculture]] only take place in closed containment facilities.<ref>{{cite news |title=MP targets ocean-based salmon farms |last=Shore |first=Randy |newspaper=[[The Vancouver Sun]] |date=October 12, 2016 |page=A7}}</ref> This time it was voted on in December 2016, but was defeated with a majority of the Liberal Party MPs (who were granted a free vote) and the Conservative Party voting against the bill, though all NDP, Bloc Quebecois and Green Party MPs voted in favour. In March 2016 Donnelly re-introduced the ''Ban on Shark Fin Importation Act'' [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-251/first-reading (Bill C-251)]. It only received a first reading but was introduced into the senate by Conservative senator [[Michael L. MacDonald]] in April 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://torontoist.com/2017/05/torontos-support-canada-moves-closer-national-shark-fin-ban/ |title=With Toronto's Support, Canada Moves Closer To a National Shark Fin Ban |first=Zach |last=Ruiter |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=June 18, 2017 |publisher=The Torontoist}}</ref> Donnelly did not re-introduce his previous bill to prohibit oil tankers off B.C.'s north coast, though the government house bill ''Oil Tanker Moratorium Act'' [http://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/C-48/first-reading (Bill C-48)] was introduced that would accomplish much the same except it would still allow small [[Oil tanker|general purpose tankers]].

Donnelly announced in December 2018 that he would not be standing in the [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019 federal election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Port Moody–Coquitlam NDP MP Fin Donnelly won't seek reelection in 2019 |url=https://www.straight.com/news/1175066/port-moody-coquitlam-mp-fin-donnelly-wont-seek-reelection-2019 |access-date=December 9, 2018 |work=The Georgia Straight |first=Charlie |last=Smith |date=December 8, 2018}}</ref>

==Provincial politics==
On September 2, 2020 Donnelly announced he was seeking the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|BC NDP]] nomination in the riding of [[Coquitlam-Burke Mountain]] for the upcoming provincial election.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fin Donnelly seeks Coquitlam-Burke Mountain BC NDP nomination |last=Strandberg |first=Diane |newspaper=TriCity News |date=September 2, 2020|url=https://www.tricitynews.com/news/fin-donnelly-seeks-coquitlam-burke-mountain-bc-ndp-nomination-1.24196555}}</ref> He was acclaimed as the party's candidate on September 14.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former MP Donnelly named BC NDP candidate for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain |last=Labbé |first=Stefan |newspaper=TriCity News |date=2020-09-15 |accessdate=2023-03-17 |url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/former-mp-donnelly-named-bc-ndp-candidate-for-coquitlam-burke-mountain-3127632}}</ref> At the [[2020 British Columbia general election|October 24, 2020 election]], he defeated one-term incumbent [[British Columbia Liberal Party|BC Liberal]] candidate [[Joan Isaacs]] to become the riding's MLA.<ref>{{cite news |title=NDP's Fin Donnelly flips Coquitlam-Burke Mountain in Tri-City orange sweep |last=Labbé |first=Stefan |newspaper=TriCity News |date=2020-10-24 |accessdate=2023-03-17 |url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/ndps-fin-donnelly-flips-coquitlam-burke-mountain-in-tri-city-orange-sweep-3144466}}</ref> He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries and Aquaculture by [[Premier of British Columbia|Premier]] [[John Horgan]] on November 26, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 26, 2020|title=New cabinet focuses on keeping people safe, fighting COVID-19|publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia|url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020PREM0102-001966|access-date=March 17, 2023}}</ref>

Initially without an assignment in Premier [[David Eby]]'s government,<ref>{{Cite web |title=New cabinet ready to take action on cost of living, health care, housing, climate |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022PREM0097-001863 |date=2022-12-07 |access-date=2023-03-17 |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |language=en-CA}}</ref> Donnelly was named Parliamentary Secretary for Watershed Restoration on January 20, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premier appoints parliamentary secretaries for rural health, watershed restoration |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023PREM0006-000064 |date=2023-01-20 |access-date=2023-03-17 |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Coquitlam MLA to continue watershed advocacy with new legislative role |last=Balzer |first=Kyle |newspaper=TriCity News |date=2023-01-20 |accessdate=2023-03-17 |url=https://www.tricitynews.com/local-news/coquitlam-mla-to-continue-watershed-advocacy-with-new-legislative-role-6413351}}</ref>

On May 9, 2024 Donnelly announced he would be retiring as an MLA at [[2024 British Columbia general election|the next election]], scheduled for October of that year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cullen |first1=Nathan |title=X: Listening to my dear friend, Fin Donnelly, announce his retirement from provincial politics & proudly speak to all of the great work he and his community have accomplished in his (too) short time in the BC Legislature.  Congrats my friend, & all the best to you & Lynda!  #bcpoli |url=https://twitter.com/nathancullen/status/1788662766938853389 |access-date=9 May 2024 |website=twitter.com}}</ref>

== Electoral record ==
=== Provincial elections ===
{{2020 British Columbia general election/Coquitlam-Burke Mountain}}

=== Federal elections ===
{{2015 Canadian federal election/Port Moody—Coquitlam}}
{{2011 Canadian federal election/New Westminster—Coquitlam}}

{{CanElec4-by|November 9, 2009|resignation of [[Dawn Black]]}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Fin Donnelly|12,129|49.6|+7.8}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|Diana Dilworth|8,753|35.8|-3.0}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|Ken Lee|2,514|10.3|-1.0}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Rebecca Helps|1,046|4.3|-2.9}}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total valid votes|24,442| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Total rejected ballots|–| }}
{{Canadian election result/total|Turnout|24,442|29.9%|}}
{{CANelec/hold|CA|NDP|+7.8}}
{{end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Fin Donnelly}}
* {{Canadian Parliament links|ID=17760}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donnelly, Fin}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Coquitlam city councillors]]
[[Category:Canadian long-distance swimmers]]
[[Category:Politicians from New Westminster]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Commons of Canada from British Columbia]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party MPs]]
[[Category:Canadian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:University of Victoria alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the House of Commons of Canada]]
[[Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]