Newly-elected Green Party MLA's Rob Botterell, left, and Jeremy Valeriote at the B.C. legislature on Oct. 30. They are about to be dropped into what promises to be a bitter, divided and hyper-partisan chamber as the NDP face off against a large Conservative opposition.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail
Rob Botterell and Jeremy Valeriote had only just met when they moved into the shared quarters of a cramped office suite in the B.C. Legislature buildings. The two may be political rookies but they hope to have a hand in steering the province’s new government,
Pending judicial recounts next week, it appears the New Democrat government holds the slimmest possible majority, and it is likely the NDP will need the co-operation of these two new Green MLAs on critical votes to maintain the confidence of the House.
They are about to be dropped into what promises to be a bitter, divided and hyperpartisan chamber as the NDP face off against a large Conservative opposition.
At the whim of B.C. voters in the Oct. 19 election, Mr. Botterell and Mr. Valeriote have been placed in what will have to be a tight working relationship. With their very different backgrounds, they could be the legislature’s odd couple.
Mr. Botterell, the MLA-elect for Saanich North and the Islands, is well-acquainted with the workings of the legislature, even though he didn’t think of running for a seat until five months ago.
He worked for the Ministry of Finance back when the Social Credit government of the 1980s was in power, learning the ropes of how Treasury Board and cabinet work. He was appointed by the subsequent NDP government of the 1990s to develop the province’s freedom of information law. He’s worked as a financial comptroller for the TD Bank, and served as legal counsel for First Nations and local governments.
At 67, he recently retired from his law practice so that he and his wife could spend more time sailing.
Mr. Valeriote, the MLA-elect for the riding of West Vancouver–Sea to Sky, is a geological engineer whose resumé includes environmental consulting and serving in local government both as staff and an elected official. His career included remediation of contaminated sites, environmental impact assessments and reclamation of expired mines.
At 50 years old, he’s still raising a young family with twin girls about to turn 11. From his home located in one of B.C.’s top outdoor recreation playgrounds, he skis in the winter and mountain bikes in the summer.
“We’re just getting to know each other,” Mr. Botterell said in an interview this week in his still-undecorated legislature office. “But you know, every once in a while, you run into folks who you just click with, and that’s certainly the case with Jeremy. We have different backgrounds but there’s a lot of synergy there.”
Mr. Botterell’s work has been largely non-partisan, and his decision to run for office was unexpected. He retired in December, and in late spring he and his wife set off on a four-month sailing trip up the West Coast. They got as far as Quadra Island, where there they found a pocket of cell service. “I looked at my cellphone for the first time in a while, and holy smokes, Adam Olsen was stepping down.” The two-term Green MLA for Saanich North and the Islands had announced on June 25 that he would not be running again.
“I thought that would be just the most amazing way to give back to the community in which I’ve lived for a long time, and I could contribute because of my background and experience to really make a difference,” Mr. Botterell said. He returned to dry land and began door-knocking, winning the party nomination in August.
Mr. Botterell’s official biography lists his alternate name as Naacałuk. The traditional name, which means “always watching” in the Nuu-chah-nulth language, was given to him by the Huu-ay-aht First Nation on Vancouver Island, to recognize his decades of work in treaty negotiations, economic development and drafting their laws and regulations.
Huu-ay-aht elected chief John Jack said in an interview that Mr. Botterell was “very agreeable to our traditions and culture” and has a tireless work ethic. “He’s tenacious, but he also has strong values to guide him, and that’s what’s exciting about him being in the legislature.
“I think he’ll be a high performer just right out of the gate.”
Mr. Valeriote almost won his seat for the Greens in the 2020 provincial election, missing the mark by just 60 votes. Following that loss, he took a job as executive co-ordinator for the mayor of Squamish.
Mayor Armand Hurford said that position wouldn’t be the most obvious career for an engineer who had himself been elected on a local council, and Mr. Valeriote was “possibly” overqualified.
But, Mr. Hurford said, Mr. Valeriote demonstrated commitment, even when some of the work was tedious. The fact that he was undaunted by his first electoral loss demonstrated the kind of sustained effort he’ll need in Victoria.
“In politics it is not all wins. I think that his tenacity will serve him and our community well, as he does his role in the legislature.”
Mr. Valeriote credits party leader Sonia Furstenau, who did not win her seat, for his victory. “I’ve no illusion that I got elected because of me, but because it was part of the message that Sonia was putting forward.”
Ms. Furstenau is staying on as party leader and will provide counsel to her inexperienced new caucus.
Mr. Valeriote sees his role in the legislature as one of moderation. “I’m keen to see what we can do to change the tenor in this place,” he said. “We’re going to be in the middle of these two parties, these two teams that hate each other and can’t have dialogue.
“There are only two of us, but maybe that’s a good size for us to work together and co-ordinate some of that moderation and modulation of the theatre.”
The Greens are currently in discussions with the NDP about what kind of co-operation they might be able to negotiate, and both MLAs-elects declined to answer questions about what’s on the table at this point.
“I can say with enthusiasm that we are definitely in discussions,” Mr. Botterell said with a laugh. “It’s really exciting.”