![Bowinn Ma, 2017 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/Bowinn_Ma%2C_2017_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Bowinn Ma,
MLA is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the
2017 provincial election.
[Ma claims North Vancouver-Lonsdale for the NDP]
''North Shore News'', May 9, 2017. Ma then stood for re-election in the
2020 British Columbia general election, again for the
British Columbia New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia (BC NDP) is a social-democratic provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada.
As of 2017, it governs the province. It is the British Columbia provincial arm of the federal New Democrati ...
. Ma won decisively a second term,
[Ma's declared win in North Vancouver-Lonsdale a landslide for NDP]
''North Shore News'', Oct 26, 2020. in spite of some BC Liberal harassment of her.
[Sexist comments about North Van NDP candidate Bowinn Ma spark outrage online]
''North Shore News'', Oct 13, 2020. She represents the electoral district of
North Vancouver-Lonsdale
North Vancouver-Lonsdale is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.
For other current and historical North Shore and City of Vancouver ridings, please see Vancouver (electoral districts)
...
as a member of the
British Columbia New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia (BC NDP) is a social-democratic provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada.
As of 2017, it governs the province. It is the British Columbia provincial arm of the federal New Democrati ...
caucus.
[
Ma serves as the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, a new position in the ]Eby ministry
The Eby ministry is the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that has governed British Columbia since November 18, 2022. It is chaired by the 37th premier of British Columbia, David Eby. The Cabinet is made up ...
. In the Horgan ministry
The Horgan ministry is the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from July 18, 2017, to November 18, 2022. It was chaired by the 36th premier of British Columbia, John Horgan. The C ...
following the 2020 election, Ma was the Minister of State for Infrastructure, and also served on the Treasury Board.[Cabinet Committees]
''Government of British Columbia'', November 26, 2020. Minister Ma's mandate included specific TransLink Translink (or TransLink) may refer to:
* TransLink (British Columbia), the public transport operator in Vancouver, Canada
* Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), a ...
SkyTrain expansion projects, the Massey Tunnel replacement and completing the Pattullo Bridge
The Pattullo Bridge is a through arch bridge that crosses the Fraser River and links the city of New Westminster to the city of Surrey in British Columbia. It was named in honour of Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, the 22nd Premier of British Columbia. ...
.
''Premier John Horgan Mandate Letter to Minister of State for Infrastructure Bowinn Ma'', November 26, 2020.
From 2017 to 2020, Ma served as the Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink, as a member of the Cabinet Housing Working Group Committee,[Cabinet Committees](_blank)
''BC Government Website'', December 1, 2017 as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and as the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.,
Ma is the youngest member of the current British Columbia Legislative Assembly, and the Canadian born daughter of Taiwanese immigrants. Ma, Katrina Chen
Katrina Chen (; born 14 July 1983) is a Canadian politician who has represented the electoral district of Burnaby-Lougheed in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 2017. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP) ...
, and Anne Kang
Anne Kang ( zh, t=康安禮; born 1977) is a Canadian politician who has represented the electoral district of Burnaby-Deer Lake in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia since 2017. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party ...
are the first MLAs of Taiwanese heritage to be elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
Ma was the first New Democrat to win a seat on the North Shore since David Schreck
David D. Schreck is a one-time Member of the Legislative Assembly in the province of British Columbia in Canada and a political pundit.
Career
Schreck represented the riding of North Vancouver-Lonsdale from 1991 to 1996 for the New Democrat ...
in 1991. She defeated two-term incumbent BC Liberal
The British Columbia Liberal Party, often shortened to the BC Liberals, is a centre-right provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition. Subsequent to the 2020 British Columbia general ...
Minister Naomi Yamamoto as a first-time candidate. The North Vancouver-Lonsdale
North Vancouver-Lonsdale is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.
For other current and historical North Shore and City of Vancouver ridings, please see Vancouver (electoral districts)
...
upset result is often credited in part to increased turnout from Squamish Nation
The Squamish Nation, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw () in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish language), is an Indian Act government originally imposed on the Squamish (''Sḵwx̱wú7mesh'') by the Federal Government of Canada in the late 19th cen ...
voters and the political mobilization of the Iranian-Canadian community, both of whom strongly favoured Ma.
Background
Ma graduated from the University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
in 2008 with a Bachelor of Applied Science
The Bachelor of Applied Science, often abbreviated as B.AS., BAS, BSAS, BASc, B.A.Sc., or BAppSc, is an undergraduate degree. There are also ''Bachelor of Arts and Science'' and ''Bachelor of Administration Science'' undergraduate degrees, also a ...
degree in civil engineering, which included a focus in transportation, and then from the UBC Sauder School of Business
The UBC Sauder School of Business is a faculty at the University of British Columbia. The faculty is located in Vancouver on UBC's Point Grey campus and has a secondary teaching facility at UBC Robson Square downtown. UBC Sauder is accredited by A ...
in 2009 with a Master of Management degree.[Alumni Spotlight: Bowinn Ma](_blank)
''UBC Engineering'', January 2015 She is currently a Professional Engineer
Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage life, public welfare, safety, well-being, then environment and other interests of the general public and to define the licensure process thro ...
registered with the as well as a Project Management Professional
Project Management Professional (PMP) is an internationally recognized professional designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). As of 31 July 2020, there are 1,036,368 active PMP-certified individuals and 314 chartered chapters ...
.[Bowinn's background](_blank)
/ref> She served as an engineer and project manager at Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is an international airport located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, serving the city of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland region. It is located from Downtown Vancouver. It is the second busie ...
prior to the 2017 election.
Prior to becoming involved in provincial politics, Ma led grassroots efforts against Bill C-51 after publicly challenging Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau ( , ; born December 25, 1971) is a Canadian politician who is the 23rd and current prime minister of Canada. He has served as the prime minister of Canada since 2015 and as the leader of the Liberal Party since 2 ...
on his support for the bill during a public Q&A event at the University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a public university, public research university with campuses near Vancouver and in Kelowna, British Columbia. Established in 1908, it is British Columbia's oldest university. The university ranks a ...
.
Ma was the fourth female president of the UBC Engineers and led the reform of the organization. Created in 2008, the awards the "Bowinn Ma Award" annually "in recognition of exceptional dedication, service, and self-sacrifice by an individual in completing their duties, both within and beyond the purview of their position".
Provincial politics
Upon being elected as MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, Ma created the Bowinn Ma MLA Social Justice Scholarship: three $500 community scholarships, awarded to one graduating high school student each from Carson Graham Secondary, Sutherland Secondary and the Squamish Nation. The scholarship is aimed at graduating high school students enrolled in a post-secondary institution who have demonstrated a commitment to social justice and overcome barriers or disadvantages in their life.
In 2018, Ma made headlines for her #MeToo statement in the BC Legislature
The Parliament of British Columbia is made of two elements: the King in Right of British Columbia, represented by the Lieutenant Governor, and the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (which meets at the British Columbia Parliament Buildi ...
voicing support for Christine Blasey Ford
Christine Margaret Blasey Ford ( ; born November 1966) is an American professor of psychology at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She specializes in designing statistical models f ...
's experience during the Brett Kavanaugh
Brett Michael Kavanaugh ( ; born February 12, 1965) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was nominated by President Donald Trump on July 9, 2018, and has served since ...
hearings and then again in early 2019 when she openly discussed her past experience with an eating disorder for Provincial Eating Disorder Awareness Week.
MLA Ma was first offered a ministerial role as 'Minister of Citizenship Services', in early 2020, still during her first term in office. However, she reluctantly declined the offer to focus on her work as a local MLA.
Ma in the 2020 British Columbia general election won a personal endorsement from the former Green Party of British Columbia
The Green Party of British Columbia, often simply called the BC Greens, is a provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1983 and is based in Victoria. The party won its first seat in the Legislative Assembly of Br ...
leader Andrew Weaver early in the campaign. In the words of Weaver, “There are few elected officials who work harder for their community and it is evident that she cares deeply about people. Bowinn has been a breath of fresh air in the Legislature and is one of our strongest voices in the fight against climate change. I certainly hope she is re-elected in North Vancouver-Lonsdale.” Ma did acknowledge her odds of winning on a podcast recorded before the campaign began, “Even before COVID, I was targeted a lot by the BC Liberals
The British Columbia Liberal Party, often shortened to the BC Liberals, is a centre-right provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition. Subsequent to the 2020 British Columbia general ...
and I don’t think that they’re wrong to target this seat. I’m the first BC NDP MLA to win a seat on the North Shore in a very long time, since 1991… So, history says that I will probably lose my seat at the next election, honestly.” Nevertheless, Ma told the North Shore News, “Our government simply does not have the runway remaining to lead this province all the way out of the pandemic in a manner that the British Columbians deserve. We would have lost 12 months to partisan bickering and electioneering, which was already happening regardless of an early election call.” As of early October 25, 2020; Ma has been declared the winner of the 2020 British Columbia general election for North Vancouver-Lonsdale
North Vancouver-Lonsdale is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada.
For other current and historical North Shore and City of Vancouver ridings, please see Vancouver (electoral districts)
...
by many British Columbia news outlets and told the North Shore News, “Votes are not owned, they're earned. And I will continue to work hard every single day for as long as I have the honour of serving North Vancouver-Lonsdale to deserve their support.”
Transportation
Since getting elected in 2017, Ma has focused largely on transportation-related issues. Ma had campaigned heavily on the issue of transportation during the 2017 election. Ma hosted and moderated a "Traffic Sucks!" forum in February 2017, during which Ma said housing affordability is a key factor when it comes to traffic congestion. Ma also campaigned on "increased investment in public infrastructure as a means of producing jobs, boosting the economy, and ensuring that the province is able to meet the needs of its businesses and residents long into the future" and expanding BC's rapid transportation network "as a way of providing a long-term solution to traffic congestion in the North Shore and throughout the Lower Mainland and as a key component of a sustainable transportation model for a growing province".
On July 18, 2017 Ma was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink Translink (or TransLink) may refer to:
* TransLink (British Columbia), the public transport operator in Vancouver, Canada
* Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), a ...
, working under the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson
Selina Mae Robinson (born 1964) is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Coquitlam-Maillardville as a member of the Brit ...
. Her main job as Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink is overseeing the transit authority as it goes through a critical phase of expansion. The NDP has already committed to funding 40 per cent of the TransLink Mayors' Council vision, which includes another SeaBus and 10-minute service, a B-line bus from Phibbs Exchange to Dundarave and an increase in regular bus service.
Ma was also selected to serve as the Chair of the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. Ma led the all-party committee consisting of BC Liberal
The British Columbia Liberal Party, often shortened to the BC Liberals, is a centre-right provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada. The party currently forms the Official Opposition. Subsequent to the 2020 British Columbia general ...
, BC NDP
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia (BC NDP) is a social democracy, social-democratic provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada.
As of 2017, it governs the province. It is the British Columbia provincial arm of the feder ...
, and BC Green MLAs in the creation of a unanimous report dated February 15, 2018, making 32 recommendations for establishing a provincial regulatory regime to govern transportation network companies providing ride-hailing services. She reconvened the all-party committee again in 2019 in the creation of a second consensus report dated March 12, 2019, making 11 recommendations on four specific areas of regulation of the Transportation Network Services industry: Boundaries, Supply, Fares, and Driver's Licenses.
Although outside of the official purview of her role as Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink, Ma also worked with in her first term with Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Claire Trevena
Claire Felicity Trevena (born May 26, 1962) is a Canadian politician, who represented the North Island electoral district Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2005 to 2020. During the 41st Parliament (2017-2020) she was appointed to t ...
to increase BC Transit bus service. Ma initiated the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project in 2018 and served as its Chair until the release of its final report in September 2018, which now serves as the North Shore's action plan and guiding document for improving transportation.[SULLIVAN: Could our traffic snarl finally turn into a smile](_blank)
''North Shore News'', January 19, 2018
As of November 26, 2020, Minister of State for Infrastructure Ma has a mandate letter to, "Support our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by working with the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to advance critical pieces of transportation infrastructure that will benefit communities across B.C." Projects according to the letter will include, "Work to extend the Millennium Line to Arbutus, with an eventual terminus at UBC, and ensure prompt design and construction of the Surrey-Langley Skytrain." Also a widening of Highway 1, replacing the Massey Crossing, completing the Pattullo Bridge
The Pattullo Bridge is a through arch bridge that crosses the Fraser River and links the city of New Westminster to the city of Surrey in British Columbia. It was named in honour of Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, the 22nd Premier of British Columbia. ...
replacement, and finally supporting, "The planning and development of key transit projects, like high-speed transit links for the North Shore and the expansion of rail up the Fraser Valley, which will bring cleaner transit, support economic growth and deliver more construction jobs for B.C. workers."
Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project (INSTPP)
Ma initiated the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project in 2018 and served as its Chair. The Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project "is a cross-jurisdictional and collaborative forum initiated to provide an integrated transportation approach that is environmentally progressive, values safety, improves the movement of people and goods, and respects First Nation's interests." Major partners in the project include the City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, TransLink, Government of Canada, Government of BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Squamish Nation. It released its report publicly on September 13, 2018.[Findings and Recommendations of the Staff Working Group (SWG) to Improve Access and Mobility for the North Shore](_blank)
''INSTPP Final Report", Aug 2018''
According to the Letter from the Chair, "the work was conducted with a level of inter-agency collaboration that is unprecedented" and "represents the first time that key public transportation agencies on the North Shore, including seven governments, have been able to collectively establish a comprehensive understanding of the transportation challenges that North Shore communities face, and produce a unified and actionable approach for moving forward as a region."
North Shore Rapid Transit
Ma is vocal in her support for rapid bus lines as precursors for rapid transit, including a controversial rapid bus line running through the North Vancouver (district municipality)
The District of North Vancouver is a district municipality in British Columbia, Canada, and is part of Metro Vancouver. It surrounds the City of North Vancouver on three sides. As of 2016, the District stands as the second wealthiest city in ...
, North Vancouver (city)
The City of North Vancouver is a city on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. It is the smallest in area and the most urbanized of the North Shore (Greater Vancouver), North Shore municipalities. Although it has significa ...
, and West Vancouver
West Vancouver is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, West Vancouver is to the northwest of the city of Vancouver on the northern side of English Ba ...
. In response to opposition from businesses and residents of West Vancouver, Ma created a West Vancouver B-Line themed parody of 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
. Ma is credited with the genesis of the first-ever study into the feasibility of a rapid transit line connecting the North Shore and downtown Vancouver, which was launched by the provincial government in May 2019.[Province to study North Shore-Vancouver rapid transit line](_blank)
''North Shore News'', May 14, 2019
However, Ma and TransLink Translink (or TransLink) may refer to:
* TransLink (British Columbia), the public transport operator in Vancouver, Canada
* Translink (Northern Ireland)
Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), a ...
did succeed after much consultation in getting a RapidBus (TransLink)
RapidBus is an express bus network with bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features t ...
line from Park Royal Exchange eastward as R2 Marine Dr
The R2 Marine Dr is an express bus service with bus rapid transit elements in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Part of TransLink's RapidBus network, it travels along Marine Drive, 3rd Street, Cotton Road, and Main Street in North V ...
to Phibbs Exchange
Phibbs Exchange is a major transit exchange in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia. Part of the TransLink system, it is home to routes serving North Vancouver and some parts of the city of Vancouver. Opened on October 19, 1973, it ...
. The express bus service
Public transport bus services are generally based on regular operation of transit buses along a route calling at agreed bus stops according to a published public transport timetable.
History of buses Origins
While there are indications ...
with bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
elements was launched on April 6, 2020 quietly due to the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia
The COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia forms part of an ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On January 28, 202 ...
for as Ma herself told the North Shore News that, “The Marine-Main R2 RapiBus is, arguably, the most exciting public transit service improvement to the North Shore since the SeaBus. I didn't get on to it because I did not have any essential travel to justify getting onto a bus.” Some of her fans on social media call this the "#BowinnLine" as a tribute to her courageous leadership.
As the new Minister of State for Infrastructure, one of Minister Ma's projects is, "Work with cabinet colleagues, communities and regions to support the planning and development of key transit projects, like high-speed transit links for the North Shore ... which will bring cleaner transit, support economic growth and deliver more construction jobs for B.C. workers."
Housing
Ma is a vocal advocate for action on Metro Vancouver's housing crisis. Her support for housing demand management measures like the BC NDP
The New Democratic Party of British Columbia (BC NDP) is a social democracy, social-democratic provincial political party in British Columbia, Canada.
As of 2017, it governs the province. It is the British Columbia provincial arm of the feder ...
Government increases to the foreign buyers tax, new speculation tax, and increased school tax rate on homes over $3M has drawn criticism from prominent Realtors and anti-tax advocates in wealthy constituencies nearby.
In 2018, Ma raised funds for the North Vancouver homeless shelter by spending the night in her car with the North Vancouver St. John's Anglican Church group and helped the North Vancouver youth safe house receive operational funding from the provincial government for the first time since it opened in 2008. Ma joined high school students from Carson Graham Secondary in sleeping outside overnight to raise funds for Covenant House, an agency for homeless youth who have fled abuse or been forced from their homes. She is also known for her work supporting vulnerable renters.North Vancouver MLA Ma warns of rental hikes that flout tenants' rights
''North Shore News'', October 13, 2017
Electoral record
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ma, Bowinn
1985 births
Living people
British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs
Canadian engineers
Canadian people of Taiwanese descent
Canadian women engineers
Women MLAs in British Columbia
University of British Columbia Faculty of Applied Science alumni
UBC Sauder School of Business alumni
21st-century Canadian politicians
21st-century Canadian women politicians
21st-century Canadian engineers
21st-century women engineers