View source for Nicholas Simons

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Nicholas Simons.jpg
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = Nicholas Simons
| honorific-suffix    = 
| caption             = 
| residence           = Powell River
| office              = Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction of [[British Columbia]]
| term_start          = November 26, 2020
| term_end            = December 7, 2022
| premier             = [[John Horgan]]<br>[[David Eby]]
| predecessor         = [[Shane Simpson]]
| successor           = [[Sheila Malcolmson]]
| constituency_AM1    = [[Powell River-Sunshine Coast]]
| assembly1           = British Columbia Legislative
| term_start1         = May 17, 2005
| term_end1           = October 19, 2024
| predecessor1        = [[Harold Long (politician)|Harold Long]]
| successor1          = [[Randene Neill]]
| birth_date          = {{Birth based on age as of date|39|2004|6|24}}<ref name="Xtra040624"/>
| birth_place         = 
| party               = [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democrat]]
| partner             = Scott Scobbie
| alma_mater          = [[University of Ottawa]]<br>[[Simon Fraser University]]
| website             = [http://www.nicholassimons.bcndp.ca]
}}

'''Nicholas Simons''' is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] politician. He was the [[Member of the Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) of [[British Columbia]], representing the riding of [[Powell River-Sunshine Coast]] from 2005 until 2024, as a member of the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]].

==Early life and career==
Simons grew up in [[Montreal]], with his musician father [[Jan Simons]] teaching at [[McGill University]].<ref name="Xtra040624"/><ref>JAN SIMONS, SINGER 1925-2006 Stone, M JView Profile. The Globe and Mail [Toronto, Ont] 29 June 2006: S.9.</ref> He studied criminology at university, graduating with a bachelor's degree from [[University of Ottawa]] and master's degree from [[Simon Fraser University]].<ref name="BCLeg42">{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/42nd-Parliament/Simons-Nicholas |title=MLA: Hon. Nicholas Simons |publisher=[[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]] |accessdate=2022-04-21 }}</ref>

Before entering politics, Simons worked as a child-protection social worker for the [[Minister of Children and Family Development (British Columbia)|Ministry for Children and Family Development]], as a financial assistance worker, and as the crime prevention coordinator for the [[Northwest Territories]].  He has been a consultant for the federal, Northwest Territories and First Nations governments in areas of law reform and child welfare.<ref name="BCLeg42"/>

He served as the executive director of health and social development for the Sechelt Nation from 1997 until 2005. In this role he oversaw health, child welfare, alcohol and drugs, financial assistance and justice programs.  He also negotiated funding for innovative preventative health and social services.<ref name="BCLeg42"/>

==Politics==
Simons was a candidate for the [[New Democratic Party]] in the [[2004 Canadian federal election|2004 federal election]], running in the riding of [[West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country|West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country]]. While he finished third,<ref name="Parlinfo">{{cite web|title=Profile - West Vancouver--Sunshine Coast, British Columbia (1997-04-27 - 2004-08-31) |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/ElectionsRidings/Ridings/Profile?OrganizationId=9859 |publisher=[[Parliament of Canada|Library of Parliament]] |access-date=2022-04-21}}</ref> the experience convinced him to run as a candidate for the [[British Columbia New Democratic Party]] (BC NDP) in the [[2005 British Columbia general election|provincial election]] the following year, in which he was elected [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|MLA]] for [[Powell River-Sunshine Coast]]. He was re-elected in [[2009 British Columbia general election|2009]], [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013]], [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017]] and [[2020 British Columbia general election|2020]].<ref name="BCLeg42"/> He was one of four openly [[gay]] members of the [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia|provincial legislature]].<ref name="Xtra040624">{{Cite news |url=http://archives.xtra.ca/Story.aspx?s=2283545 |title=A skilled mediator: Nicholas Simons brings NDP voice to West Vancouver & Sunshine Coast |publisher=[[Xtra! West]] |date=2004-06-24 |first=Diane |last=Claveau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706213808/http://archives.xtra.ca/Story.aspx?s=2283545 |archive-date=2011-07-06 }}</ref>

In the legislature, Simons has served as chair of the Caucus Social Policy Committee, critic for Tourism, Sport and the Arts, and as critic for the [[Minister of Children and Family Development (British Columbia)|Ministry for Children and Family Development]].

He is rumoured to be one of thirteen provincial caucus members who forced the resignation of [[Carole James]] from her position as leader of the BC NDP.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thetyee.ca/News/2010/12/04/13NDPDissidents/ |title=Who Are the NDP's 13 Dissidents? |publisher=[[The Tyee]] |date=2010-12-04 |first=Andrew |last=MacLeod}}</ref>  James announced her resignation on December 6, 2010, after consulting with a group of caucus members opposed to her continued leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/Carole+James+quits+leader/3934785/story.html |title=Carole James quits as NDP leader |publisher=[[Vancouver Sun]] |date=2010-12-06 |first=Jonathan and Rob Shaw |last=Fowlie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316060029/http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Carole+James+quits+leader/3934785/story.html |archive-date=2011-03-16 }}</ref> Simons declared his candidacy in the [[2011 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election|subsequent leadership race]] on January 5, 2011,<ref name=SimonsLaunch>{{cite news | url=http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=64cb8e22-6013-4f6c-a132-fcf91fcfab8c | last=Fowlie | first=Jonathan | title=NDP leadership race takes shape as new names enter -- and exit | newspaper=Vancouver Sun | date=2011-01-05 | access-date=2015-05-28 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817082021/http://www.canada.com/story.html?id=64cb8e22-6013-4f6c-a132-fcf91fcfab8c | archive-date=2015-08-17 }}</ref> but withdrew on April 7 and threw his support behind [[John Horgan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theprogress.com/news/simons-drops-out-of-ndp-leadership-race/ |title=Simons drops out of NDP leadership race |publisher=The Chilliwack Progress |date=2011-04-07 |accessdate=2022-04-21 |first=Tom |last=Fletcher}}</ref>

On November 26, 2020, he was appointed Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richard Zussman on Twitter|url=https://twitter.com/richardzussman/status/1332092384084066304|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> With the announcement of [[Premier of British Columbia|Premier]] [[David Eby]]'s new cabinet on December 7, 2022, Simons was replaced in that role by [[Sheila Malcolmson]],<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2022-12-07 |title=New cabinet ready to take action on cost of living, health care, housing, climate |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022PREM0097-001863 |access-date=2022-12-09 |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |language=en}}</ref> and was instead named NDP caucus chair.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.coastreporter.net/local-news/powell-river-sunshine-coast-mla-loses-minister-assignment-6213058 |title=UPDATE: Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA loses minister position |publisher=Coast Reporter |date=2022-12-07 |accessdate=2022-12-12 |first=Paul |last=Galinski }}</ref> On September 1, 2023 he announced that he would not seek reelection in the next provincial election, and was succeeded by [[Randene Neill]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elghussein |first=Hussam |date=2024-10-20 |title=Randene Neill elected new MLA for Powell River – Sunshine Coast |url=https://www.mypowellrivernow.com/53688/news/island-coast/randene-neill-elected-new-mla-for-powell-river-sunshine-coast/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=My Powell River Now |language=en-CA}}</ref>

== Electoral record ==
{{British Columbia provincial election, 2020/Powell River-Sunshine Coast}}
{{British Columbia provincial election, 2017/Powell River-Sunshine Coast}}
{{British Columbia provincial election, 2013/Powell River-Sunshine Coast}}{{2009 British Columbia general election/Powell River-Sunshine Coast}}{{2005 British Columbia general election/Powell River-Sunshine Coast}}{{CANelec/top|CA|2004|West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country|percent=yes|change=yes|expenditures=yes}}
{{CANelec|CA|Conservative|[[John Reynolds (Canadian politician)|John Reynolds]]|21,372|35.29|-22.04|$81,933}}
{{CANelec|CA|Liberal|[[Blair Wilson]]|19,685|32.51|+5.91|$81,023}}
{{CANelec|CA|NDP|Nicholas Simons|13,156|21.72|+15.43|$29,779}}
{{CANelec|CA|Green|Andrea Goldsmith|5,887|9.72|+4.83|$28,167}}
{{CANelec|CA|Canadian Action|Marc Bombois|321|0.53|-1.30|$117}}
{{CANelec|CA|Marxist-Leninist|Anne Jamieson|123|0.20|&ndash;|}}
{{CANelec/total|Total valid votes|60,544|100.0 &nbsp;}}
{{CANelec/total|Total rejected ballots|139|0.23|-0.06}}
{{CANelec/total|Turnout|60,683|66.00|+2.81}}
{{CANelec/nothold|CA|Conservative|-13.98}}
{{CANelec/note|<small>Conservative change is from the combination of Progressive Conservative and Canadian Alliance vote.</small>}}
{{end}}

== Personal life ==
Simons is a [[cello|cellist]], whose musical credits include several tracks on [[Rise Against]]'s 2004 album ''[[Siren Song of the Counter Culture]]''.<ref name=gold>{{cite news |url=https://www.straight.com/article-254174/mla-strikes-hardcore-gold |title=NDP MLA Nicholas Simons strikes hardcore gold record |publisher=The Georgia Straight |first=Adrian |last=Mack |date=2009-09-02 |accessdate=2022-04-21 }}</ref> Simons and Vancouver mayor [[Gregor Robertson (politician)|Gregor Robertson]] both perform on country-punk musician Slim Milkie's 2010 album ''Silverado'';<ref name=gold /> Milkie, whose real name is Scott Scobbie, is Simons' partner.<ref name="Straight110105">{{cite news |url=https://www.straight.com/article-366978/vancouver/ndp-mla-nicholas-simonss-leadership-bid-linked-tragedy |title=NDP MLA Nicholas Simons's leadership bid linked to tragedy |publisher=The Georgia Straight |first=Charlie |last=Smith |date=2011-01-05 |accessdate=2021-11-29 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.leg.bc.ca/MLA/39thParl/simonsN.htm Profile on the website of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]
*[http://www.bcndpcaucus.ca/en/mla/nicholas_simons Profile on the website of the British Columbia NDP Caucus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504213147/http://www.bcndpcaucus.ca/en/mla/nicholas_simons/ |date=2012-05-04 }}

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=John_Horgan}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Shane Simpson]]
| post1         = Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
| post1years    = 26 November 2020 – 7 December 2022
| post1note     = 
| post1followed = [[Sheila Malcolmson]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Horgan Ministry}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simons, Nicholas}}
[[Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs]]
[[Category:Canadian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Canadian gay politicians]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ people in provincial and territorial legislatures]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian cellists]]
[[Category:New Democratic Party candidates for the Canadian House of Commons]]
[[Category:University of Ottawa alumni]]
[[Category:Simon Fraser University alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]