Mike de Jong

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title: "Mike de Jong" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["year-of-birth-missing-(living-people)", "living-people", "attorneys-general-of-british-columbia", "bc-united-mlas", "british-columbia-school-board-members", "canadian-king's-counsel", "canadian-people-of-dutch-descent", "carleton-university-alumni", "ministers-of-finance-of-british-columbia", "ministers-of-health-of-british-columbia", "lawyers-in-british-columbia", "members-of-the-executive-council-of-british-columbia", "university-of-alberta-faculty-of-law-alumni", "20th-century-canadian-lawyers", "20th-century-members-of-the-legislative-assembly-of-british-columbia", "solicitors-general-of-canadian-provinces", "21st-century-members-of-the-legislative-assembly-of-british-columbia", "independent-candidates-in-the-2025-canadian-federal-election", "british-columbia-candidates-for-member-of-parliament"] description: "Canadian politician" topic_path: "economics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_de_Jong" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Canadian politician ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

Field	Value
image	Mikedejong.jpg
name	Mike de Jong
honorific-suffix
assembly	British Columbia Legislative
constituency_AM	Abbotsford West
(Abbotsford-Mount Lehman; 2001–2009)
(Matsqui; 1994–2001)
term_start	February 17, 1994
term_end	September 21, 2024
predecessor	Peter Albert Dueck
successor	Korky Neufeld
{{Collapsed infobox section begin	last
titlestyle	border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder
office1	Minister responsible for Multiculturalism
premier1	Christy Clark
term_start1	March 21, 2013
term_end1	June 10, 2013
predecessor1	Ralph Sultan
successor1	Teresa Wat (Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism)
office2	Minister of Finance
premier2	Christy Clark
term_start2	September 5, 2012
term_end2	July 18, 2017
predecessor2	Shirley Bond
(acting)
successor2	Carole James
office3	Minister of Health
premier3	Christy Clark
term_start3	March 14, 2011
term_end3	September 5, 2012
predecessor3	Colin Hansen
successor3	Margaret MacDiarmid
office4	Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
premier4	Gordon Campbell
term_start4	May 5, 2010
term_end4	October 25, 2010
predecessor4	Kash Heed
successor4	Rich Coleman
term_start5	April 9, 2010
term_end5	May 4, 2010
predecessor5	Kash Heed
successor5	Kash Heed
office6	Attorney General
premier6	Gordon Campbell
term_start6	June 10, 2009
term_end6	December 1, 2010
predecessor6	Wally Oppal
successor6	Barry Penner
office7	Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
premier7	Gordon Campbell
term_start7	August 15, 2006
term_end7	June 10, 2009
predecessor7	Tom Christensen
successor7	George Abbott
office8	Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services
premier8	Gordon Campbell
term_start8	June 16, 2005
term_end8	August 15, 2006
predecessor8	Graham Bruce
successor8	Olga Ilich
office9	Minister of Forests
premier9	Gordon Campbell
term_start9	June 5, 2001
term_end9	June 16, 2005
predecessor9	Gordon Wilson
successor9	Rich Coleman}}
birth_name	Michael de Jong
birth_date
party	Independent (federal, since 2025)
BC United (provincial)
otherparty	Conservative (federal, until 2025)
residence	Matsqui, British Columbia
alma_mater	Carleton University (B.A.)
University of Alberta Faculty of Law (LL.B.)
profession	lawyer
caption	De Jong in 2011
::

| image = Mikedejong.jpg | honorific-prefix = | name = Mike de Jong | honorific-suffix = | assembly = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM = Abbotsford West (Abbotsford-Mount Lehman; 2001–2009) (Matsqui; 1994–2001) | term_start = February 17, 1994 | term_end = September 21, 2024 | predecessor = Peter Albert Dueck | successor = Korky Neufeld |titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes | office1 = Minister responsible for Multiculturalism | premier1 = Christy Clark | term_start1 = March 21, 2013 | term_end1 = June 10, 2013 | predecessor1 = Ralph Sultan | successor1 = Teresa Wat (Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism) | office2 = Minister of Finance | premier2 = Christy Clark | term_start2 = September 5, 2012 | term_end2 = July 18, 2017 | predecessor2 = Shirley Bond (acting) | successor2 = Carole James | office3 = Minister of Health | premier3 = Christy Clark | term_start3 = March 14, 2011 | term_end3 = September 5, 2012 | predecessor3 = Colin Hansen | successor3 = Margaret MacDiarmid | office4 = Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General | premier4 = Gordon Campbell | term_start4 = May 5, 2010 | term_end4 = October 25, 2010 | predecessor4 = Kash Heed | successor4 = Rich Coleman | term_start5 = April 9, 2010 | term_end5 = May 4, 2010 | predecessor5 = Kash Heed | successor5 = Kash Heed | office6 = Attorney General | premier6 = Gordon Campbell | term_start6 = June 10, 2009 | term_end6 = December 1, 2010 | predecessor6 = Wally Oppal | successor6 = Barry Penner | office7 = Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation | premier7 = Gordon Campbell | term_start7 = August 15, 2006 | term_end7 = June 10, 2009 | predecessor7 = Tom Christensen | successor7 = George Abbott | office8 = Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services | premier8 = Gordon Campbell | term_start8 = June 16, 2005 | term_end8 = August 15, 2006 | predecessor8 = Graham Bruce | successor8 = Olga Ilich | office9 = Minister of Forests | premier9 = Gordon Campbell | term_start9 = June 5, 2001 | term_end9 = June 16, 2005 | predecessor9 = Gordon Wilson | successor9 = Rich Coleman}} | birth_name = Michael de Jong | birth_date = | party = Independent (federal, since 2025) BC United (provincial) | otherparty = Conservative (federal, until 2025) | residence = Matsqui, British Columbia | alma_mater = Carleton University (B.A.) University of Alberta Faculty of Law (LL.B.) | profession = lawyer | caption = De Jong in 2011 Michael de Jong (born 1963 or 1964) is a politician in the Canadian province of British Columbia. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Matsqui from 1994 to 2001, Abbotsford-Mount Lehman from 2001 to 2009, and Abbotsford West from 2009 until 2024. A caucus member of BC United (formerly known as the British Columbia Liberal Party), he served in several cabinet posts under premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark, and ran for party leadership in 2011 and 2018.

Early life

De Jong was born to Dutch parents who immigrated to Canada after Canadian soldiers liberated the Netherlands in World War II. At age eight, he and his family moved to a farm in the District of Matsqui in British Columbia. He attended Abbotsford's last single-room elementary school and worked as farm labourer as an early teen.

He graduated from Carleton University in Ottawa with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then attended the University of Alberta Faculty of Law, earning his law degree in 1988. He subsequently returned to Matsqui to set up a law practice, and was elected as trustee for School District 34 Abbotsford at age 26, becoming one of Canada's youngest school board members.

Political career

Provincial politics

Early career and opposition

In 1994, de Jong was recruited by Gordon Campbell of the British Columbia Liberal Party to compete against new Social Credit Party (Socred) leader Grace McCarthy in a by-election in Matsqui. The Socreds had represented the riding for 42 years until de Jong defeated McCarthy by a margin of 42 votes. McCarthy, who had been attempting to rebuild the Socreds, resigned as party leader shortly after her by-election loss, and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.

De Jong was a member of the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001, serving as opposition critic for aboriginal affairs at one point. He was regarded as very vocal on the opposition benches; he was ejected from the legislative assembly for calling then-Attorney General Colin Gabelmann a "liar" and was later sued for libel by federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal.

Campbell ministry

In the 2001 election, de Jong ran in the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman. After his party was victorious in the election, de Jong was appointed Minister of Forests in the new Campbell ministry. In 2004, de Jong removed 70,000 hectares of land from Tree Farm Licence 44 with no compensation from the owner and against the recommendations of ministry staff; this effectively privatized what had been Crown Land without compensation to the province. The changes made allowed the wood to be exported as raw logs rather than lumber, and also allowed for eventual development of the land. The land in question was under dispute by the Hupacasath First Nation and also the Tseshaht First Nation; no consultation took place and the bands had since filed legal action. He has also been linked to other such privatizations of Crown forest land. After the 2005 election, de Jong became Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services. The following year, in a small cabinet shuffle, he became Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

In the 2009 election, de Jong ran in the newly created riding of Abbotsford West. Following the election, in which the BC Liberals remained in office, de Jong was named Attorney General. On two occasions in 2010, de Jong stepped in as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General while Kash Heed was under investigation for campaign violations. That same year, de Jong faced controversy when he approved the payment of $6 million in legal fees for Liberal Party insiders David Basi and Robert Virk, who pleaded guilty to charges of breach of trust and accepting benefits in connection with the sale of BC Rail in 2003. De Jong defended his actions saying the government's Legal Services Branch had recommended they not try to collect the funds since the aides did not have any money.

On December 1, 2010, de Jong announced that he would seek the leadership of the BC Liberal Party to replace the outgoing Gordon Campbell, and resigned his cabinet post. During his campaign, he advocated for the provincial voting age to be lowered to 16. He placed fourth in the 2011 leadership election, which was won by Christy Clark.

Clark ministry

In Clark's initial cabinet, de Jong was named Minister of Health. He was appointed Minister of Finance on September 5, 2012, and in addition briefly served as Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism between March and June 2013. He retained the finance portfolio following his re-election in 2013. From 2013 to 2017, de Jong tabled five consecutive balanced budgets.

De Jong was re-elected in 2017 and remained as Minister of Finance. He finished his term as minister that July, following the Liberal minority government's defeat in a confidence vote on June 29.

Return to opposition

With Christy Clark resigning as leader, de Jong announced on September 26, 2017 his intention to run in the 2018 BC Liberal leadership election. His campaign placed an emphasis on education, including proposals to extend full-day kindergarten to four-year-olds, and to provide $500 each year to a child's registered education savings plan. On January 18, 2018, de Jong and rival candidate Andrew Wilkinson announced they had struck a deal to support each other as their second-ballot choices. De Jong placed fifth in a field of six, but his alliance with Wilkinson was critical to the latter's victory.

He was re-elected in 2020, and was named shadow minister for Attorney General. He announced in February 2024 that he would not seek another term as MLA in that year's provincial election, and stated that he was considering running for the Conservative Party of Canada in the next federal election. His provincial seat was held by the Conservatives by Korky Neufeld.

Federal politics

On April 17, 2024, de Jong announced he was seeking the Conservative nomination for Abbotsford—South Langley. On March 4, 2025, de Jong revealed on social media that despite the local Electoral District Candidate Selection Committee unanimously endorsing his candidacy, the party denied his application to seek the nomination by telling him that he was "not qualified". De Jong later announced that he was running as an independent by stating his belief that candidates should not be selected by a party operative. The Globe and Mail later reported that the Conservative candidate, 25 year-old blueberry farmer Sukhman Singh Gill, was selected by Jenni Byrne. On April 15, 2025, Ed Fast, the outgoing Conservative MP for Abbotsford, the predecessor district of Abbotsford—South Langley, endorsed de Jong. Gill was elected in the election.

Electoral record

Federal elections

Provincial elections

Notes

References

References

1. 'Open Mike' promises a 'fresh start'; MLA Mike de Jong starts campaign by distancing himself from Premier Campbell by Ward, Doug. [[The Vancouver Sun]] 02 Dec 2010: A.2.
2. (May 23, 2015). "Finance minister learned frugality on Fraser Valley farm". [[The Vancouver Sun]].
3. "De Jong, Hon. Michael, B.A., LL.B. (Abbotsford-Mount Lehman) Minister Of Forests". Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
4. "MLA: Michael de Jong, K.C.". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
5. "Michael de Jong named BC Minister of Health". [[University of Alberta Faculty of Law]].
6. (2001-03-21). "Liberals deflect NDP attack on treaty referendum plan". [[CBC News]].
7. McInnes, Craig. (2001-06-05). "27-member cabinet biggest in B.C. history". [[Vancouver Sun]].
8. "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011". [[Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]].
9. Valley, Alberni. (2008-05-09). "Opposition pounces on TFL 44 revelations". Canada.com.
10. "Tseshaht land claim complicates TFL removal - Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC)".
11. Damonse, Anthony. (2011-01-12). "Kitimat Sentinel - 'Mistake' not adjusting min. wage". Bclocalnews.com.
12. (June 16, 2005). "Campbell presents new B.C. cabinet". The Globe and Mail.
13. Hunter, Justine. (June 23, 2008). "B.C. cabinet shuffle puts familiar face in Finance". The Globe and Mail.
14. (June 10, 2009). "B.C. premier names new 24-member cabinet". [[CBC News]].
15. (2010-05-05). "B.C. solicitor general Heed resigns again". [[CBC News]].
16. (2010-10-19). "BC Rail defendants' $6M tab footed by taxpayers". [[CBC News]].
17. (2010-12-01). "Mike de Jong joins BC Liberal leadership race". [[CTV News]].
18. (2010-12-15). "Lower B.C. voting age to 16: de Jong". [[CBC News]].
19. Shaw, Rob. (February 27, 2011). "Christy Clark to become new B.C. premier". [[Calgary Herald]].
20. (2011-02-26). "Christy Clark voted B.C. Liberal leader". [[CBC News]].
21. (2018-01-24). "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017". Legislative Library of British Columbia.
22. (March 14, 2011). "B.C. Premier Christy Clark sworn in, unveils cabinet". CTV News.
23. (December 26, 2011). "BC health minister Mike de Jong: his first major interview". The Vancouver Sun.
24. Hunter, Justine. (September 5, 2011). "Clark shuffles cabinet to 'set the foundation' ahead of 2013 election".
25. (2017-06-26). "Former B.C. finance minister Mike de Jong, Michael Lee announce Liberal run".
26. (2017-06-12). "B.C. Premier Christy Clark and cabinet sworn in". [[CBC News]].
27. (June 29, 2017). "B.C. Liberal government loses confidence vote 44-42, sparking either NDP government or election". CBC News.
28. (September 26, 2017). "Mike de Jong, Michael Lee join the BC Liberal leadership race". [[CKWX.
29. McElroy, Justin. (2018-01-30). "Mike de Jong: the candidate of experience, for better or worse". [[CBC News]].
30. Shaw, Rob. (2018-01-20). "Wilkinson and de Jong strike deal to support each other in Liberal leadership race". [[Vancouver Sun]].
31. Shaw, Rob. (2018-02-05). "How Andrew Wilkinson won the B.C. Liberal leadership race". [[Vancouver Sun]].
32. (2020-09-26). "B.C. election 2020: Abbotsford West results".
33. (2024-02-14). "BC United veteran Mike de Jong retiring from B.C. politics, mulling federal run".
34. "BC election 2024 results: Abbotsford West {{!}} Globalnews.ca".
35. (2024-02-14). "Veteran B.C. politician Mike de Jong to leave legislature, mulls federal run".
36. (2025-03-04). "Mike de Jong ousted from Abbotsford-South Langley Tory nomination race".
37. (March 4, 2025). "Tories reject former B.C. cabinet minister Mike de Jong as federal election candidate".
38. (2025-03-27). "Former B.C. cabinet minister Mike de Jong set to run in federal election as an independent". The Globe and Mail.
39. (2025-03-28). "Pressure mounts on Poilievre to refocus Conservative campaign on Donald Trump". The Globe and Mail.
40. (April 15, 2025). "Conservative MP Ed Fast endorses Independent candidate Mike de Jong". [[Winnipeg Free Press]].
41. (2025-03-10). "Local farmer wins Tory nomination for Abbotsford-South Langley".

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