Adrian Dix was elected as the MLA for Vancouver Kingsway on May 17, 2005. Adrian is the Opposition Caucus Deputy House Leader, and serves as Opposition Critic for Health. Adrian has extensive experience as a non-profit director, education community leader, government strategist and media commentator.
Prior to the 2005 election, Adrian travelled the province for five years as Executive Director of Canadian Parents for French - BC & Yukon Branch, a non-profit organization promoting language education. Adrian is a commentator on public policy whose regular columns were published in the Victoria Times-Colonist and The Source, a Vancouver multicultural newspaper. Adrian also served as the Chief of Staff to Premier Glen Clark from 1996 to 1999.
Adrian grew up in Vancouver, graduated from University of British Columbia and lives in the Collingwood neighbourhood. He is married to Renée Saklikar.
What They Are Saying
Adrian Dix has gained respect for his approach to opposition. Here is just some of what the media and others are saying about Adrian:
"Dix did a superb job as the critic for children and families, forcing the government to order an inquiry
by retired judge Ted Hughes. This led directly to the creation of a new officer of the legislature, Mary
Ellen Turpel-Lafond, to act as an independent advocate for children and youth. Dix has also been an effective
health critic, highlighting financial shortfalls at various health authorities and pointing out how the
government is not enforcing the Medicare Protection Act."
- Georgia Straight, May 17, 2007.
"It's pretty much established that NDP health critic Adrian Dix is the best and toughest critic on the
Opposition benches and a regular pain in the you-know-where to the Gordon Campbell government."
- Michael Smyth, Vancouver Province, May 25, 2007
"His (Dix's) past career with various NDP governments, including a stint as former premier Glen Clark's
chief of staff, has given him loads of experience about how things work, and don't work.
He.. makes the Liberal government nervous, as the controversy over illegal MRI use in B.C. hospitals
proves once again. "
- Les Leyne, Victoria Times-Colonist, Sept. 23, 2006
"James is promoting Adrian Dix to the important role of health critic, watching over the $11-billion ministry
the Opposition believes is Premier Gordon Campbell's Achilles heel. Dix, a former chief of staff to former
NDP premier Glen Clark, was critic of Children and Family Development, where he led the Opposition's drive
for major reforms in the ministry."
- Vancouver Sun, June 30, 2006
"The real emerging star of the NDP caucus was Adrian Dix, the Vancouver-Kingsway MLA and former chief aide
to former premier Glen Clark. Dix was able to take a very sensitive issue - the death of children - and hold
the government to account without resorting to personal attacks."
- Keith Baldrey, Global BCTV Legislative Bureau Chief
December 2, 2005
"Dix is proving himself as the savviest and hardest-working
critic among the dozens of new Opposition MLAs at the legislature."
- Michael Smyth, Vancouver Province, July 31st, 2005
"Dix has emerged as star NDP critic ... One of the most astute
politicians in the province."
- Robert Matas, Globe and
Mail, December 26th, 2005
"One of the strongest voices on the Opposition side."
-
Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, November 25, 2005
"While other MLAs were still looking for constituency offices
this summer, Adrian Dix was holding the government's feet to the
fire over the murder of a Port Alberni child in government care...
Dix is running up the score on the government."
- Tom
Fletcher, Black Press, November 2, 2005
"Adrian Dix is earning the reputation as the comeback kid of
BC politics."
- A Channel News, December 2nd, 2005
"the stellar work of Adrian Dix NDP children's critic who pressed the government since the summer on the children's
issue. The BC Liberals stalled and stalled and in the end were force to admit that they had made an extraordinary error."
- Paul Willcocks, Columnist on the CBC's Daybreak South,
December 16, 2005
"What I appreciate about Adrian Dix and I appreciate this about any politician who speaks his mind, I don't care
whether I agree or disagree, but I want to hear what the politician stands for. That's so lacking, so lacking,"
- Former Social Credit Premier Bill Vander Zalm in 24
Hours, August 23rd, 2005
