David W. Wright, Q.C.

Candidate Profile

*Education: *
Glebe Collegiate Institute 1950 – 55 (worked summers in Dept. of Entomology, Experimental Farm, Ottawa,
occasionally loaned to the Botany Dept. for his expertise in the local flora).
Carleton University, BSc., 1958. (summers were spent preparing statistical survey of Canadian mines for Dept. of
Mines /geological mapping near Arctic Circle for Geological Survey of Canada.)
Osgoode Hall Law School, LLB - 1961…….Called to Ontario Bar –1963 …… Appointed Queen's Counsel - 1975.

*Professional Background*:
Practiced law in St. Thomas and Toronto 1963 – 70.
Partner in large King and Bay Street Toronto law firm, 1971 – 86.
He acted for many major mining corporations, Canadian banks, a First Nations Band, local, regional and national business and land developers, Community Associations, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Toronto, as well as individuals from all walks of life. His work often entailed dealing with all levels of government.
1986 - 91 Vice President and Canadian Counsel for a large multinational corporation before retiring in 1992.

*Community Service (brief summary): *
Toronto:
Scoutmaster and Venturer leader - Chair of church council and Community Association.
Founding president of Lawyers for Social Responsibility (LSR), which played a role in the establishment of the
Land Mines Treaty, and the World Court judgment finding the threat or use of nuclear weapons to be illegal.
LSR also submitted numerous briefs to federal government committees on a wide range of topics.
Founding chairperson of the United Church Peace Network and director or legal adviser to over 25 other NGOs. Chair of the City of Toronto Interfaith Peace Committee. Member of the Arms Consultative Group, (Ottawa), chaired by Senator Douglas Roche, Canada’s former Disarmament Ambassador to the United Nations. David represented the United Nations Association in Canada overseeing voting on The Compact of Free Association, in Palau, (part of the UN’s Strategic Trust in the South Pacific) He.has addressed conferences, across Canada and in Trinidad, Tokyo, London, and Brussels.
Nanaimo:
Chair of Hammond Bay Neighborhood Association and Plan Nanaimo Advisory Committee.
Member of Nanaimo Environmental Advisory and Liquid Waste Management Committees and
the Plan Nanaimo Committee that developed an award-winning plan for the city.
Member of the Roundtable of the Regional District of Nanaimo - Played a key role in acquiring Neck Point Park.

Legal counsel in court case challenging, Federal Government’s expropriation of the Nanoose Bay test range from the Province of B.C.
*Political: *
Mayoral candidate, Markham, ON 1982. Federal Green Party candidate ( Nanaimo-Alberni) in 2004 & 2006.

*Family* - David and his wife Jean are parents to three children and grandparents to four grandchildren.
*Recreation: * - David has had a lifelong love of the outdoors and enjoys golf and fishing.

Questions

1. Please identify what you believe to be the most important issue in your riding and your plan to address that issue.
   

   As I tried to analyze what I have been hearing in my door to door campaign in the beautiful community of Victoria - Swan Lake. I was surprised, in a way, with what I believe I was really being told. In my brief conversations with the residents the talks centered around the issues of the day… the economy, the environment, security, etc. but there is slowly emerging in my mind a set of “root causes” which are not being talked about and which I believe must be addressed. It is a rather like the old story, “ but for a nail the kingdom was lost …”
   
   I suggest the number one challenge facing my constituency, and I suspect most communities across British Columbia is the lack of leadership with a vision. I believe this applies at most levels of our country and in most of the endeavours of our people. From this lack of leadership and vision there flows the application of “Band-Aid” solutions that don't cure the problems; result in ambivalence towards the political process and things government; partisan politics that divide and weaken communities; etc… I think if members of the chamber were to take time to analyze the current situation they would find similar “ripple effects” in the areas of economics and business and in the relationships between employers and employees.
   
   I would begin to address this problem by empowering the latent leadership that lies within all our communities. It is often said, “our greatest asset is our people” and we need to encourage them, not just pay them lip service, because the government can't do it alone. If elected, I would begin regular “town hall” meetings in an effort to harness the energy and ideas, which at present are going to waste. I would hope that municipal officials would participate and use such opportunities to set new goals and develop new leaders to strengthen the community and improve the quality of life for all.I suggest the members of the Chamber might find the time and effort well spent in searching for searching for "root" solutions in their various areas of endeavour.
   
   The next steps I take would be decided by the knowledge gathered from the meetings. I believe, the Provincial government’s function is to facilitate rather than dictate.