In John Horgan, British Columbians found a politician, but not an ideologue. A Premier, but not a partisan. He was “Premier Dad.” Horgan wasn’t known for the soaring oratory of the Barack Obamas of the world, but what he excelled at was understanding people. Real people. He was raised and steeped in the concerns of the average citizen and understood what made B.C. tick. On Tuesday, we received the sad news that he died after a battle with cancer. Horgan was 65.
A humble man with real grit, he had a common touch that endeared him to all.
Horgan ascended to power in a rather unconventional manner. In the 2017 election, Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberals won 43 seats, Horgan’s NDP 41 and the Greens under Andrew Weaver took the remaining three. However, Horgan and Weaver struck a deal to work together and formed government. Though initially an unlikely premier, Horgan governed the province effectively and, in the end, was universally respected, even by his fiercest political opponents.
Horgan understood that resources mattered to B.C. at a time when the more extreme environmentalist elements in his party were pushing hard to stifle the energy industry. He kept work going on B.C.’s massive Site-C hydro dam and encouraged the responsible extraction of mineral and natural gas resources. He had zero patience for the lazy environmental protesters who were preventing First Nations from benefitting from forestry resources and told them to “get a life.”
Pushing ahead with Site-C was no idle decision, given the political vice in which Horgan found himself in 2017 and may well be the defining decision of his premiership. He could easily have folded on the hydro dam and, if he had, LNG Canada, which needed the electricity, wouldn’t be in operation. Canada’s reputation for investment would have taken a terrible beating. The country is richer for his backbone.
Horgan was also a sports fan and Vancouver’s status as a future World Cup of Football 2026 city is thanks to him. A man of the people, for the people.
Not all decisions he made, of course, were lauded. Critics will point most definitively to his claim he would “use every tool in the toolbox,” to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline. While perhaps he did, he also didn’t drag his feet once the toolbox was exhausted and TMX permits were granted faster than they would have been under other premiers more inclined to let activists to run energy policy. Horgan also caught flak for the Community Benefits Agreement that required all construction workers on B.C. infrastructure projects to be in a union.
Horgan was tough if you messed with him. There are many examples, but none as important as his snap election decision in 2020 when he broke the Supply and Confidence Agreement he had with the Green party. The fact the election was also during COVID revealed a hard-nosed political operator who smelled a chance to win big and took it. It worked. Horgan’s 55 seat majority in 2021 was the biggest NDP win since 1991. Go into the corners with John and watch out: he’s got elbows.
Ultimately though, this is politics and people came to recognize that. And, the more people heard Horgan talk, the more they liked him. This is when, during COVID and in the lead up to the election, he became “Premier Dad.” He spoke the language of British Columbians and reflected their views and concerns. In the 2020 leader’s debate he famously talked about playing lacrosse as a kid and, at a racially charged time, when all the world was demanding the opposite, said that as kids “We didn’t see colour (in other people).” His own caucus criticized him for it, but he knew that’s where real people were on the issue, because he was one of them.
Horgan announced that he was stepping down as premier in 2022 following treatment for throat cancer. On his final day he gave a farewell address to the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. This is not the traditional NDP stomping ground, and many, if not most in attendance were known B.C. Liberal supporters. Horgan struck an optimistic tone for the future of the province he loved and offered to help his successors at all levels of government if they thought he could lend a hand. At the end of his speech the room gave him a standing ovation. Horgan was a political opponent, but a man all respected for his vision and what he had done with the province.
I didn’t know John Horgan well. However, it is personal interaction which captures his essence for me. In 2015, as a candidate for the federal Liberals, I was at a farmer’s market promoting my campaign. Horgan happened to be visiting the same market and was then a relatively new leader of the provincial NDP. He came to my stall and said he knew we were on different sides, but he always appreciated anyone who stood up to run and congratulated me on doing so. As a young, nobody candidate I have always appreciated that. Horgan then asked me if I was, by any chance, a relative of John Pankratz who had played for the BC Lions in the 1980s. It so happens that’s my father and I pointed him out on the other side of the tent. Horgan was genuinely excited by this and talked to my dad about how he was a big fan of his and the BC Lions, and how much he enjoyed watching the Grey Cup run in 1985. That was John Horgan.
People will sometimes refer to politicians as “people I’d like to have a beer with.” Horgan was literally that politician. A football fan, a mill worker and a dad who happened to be premier. He made the right calls for B.C. and we are lucky he did. Godspeed, John. British Columbia will miss you.
Adam Pankratz is a lecturer at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.