James Rabbitt

James Thomas "Jim" Rabbitt (born May 22, 1941)[1] is a businessman and former politician in British Columbia. He represented Yale-Lillooet in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991 as a Social Credit member.

James Rabbitt
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Yale-Lillooet
In office October 22, 1986 – October 17, 1991
Preceded by	Thomas Waterland
Succeeded by	Harry Lali
Personal details
Born	May 22, 1941 Princeton, British Columbia
Political party	Liberal Party (1996-?) Social Credit (1986-1996)
Profession	Businessman

He was born in Princeton, British Columbia, the son of Patrick J. Rabbitt, and was educated at the University of British Columbia. In 1961, Rabbitt married Eileen A. Goldie. He was an alderman for Merritt and was mayor from 1980 to 1984. Rabbitt served in the provincial cabinet as Minister of Labour and Consumer Services.[1] He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1991 as a Social Credit member and again in 1996 as a Liberal, losing to Harry Lali each time.[2]

In 1988, he chaired a special legislative committee charged with reviewing the distribution of electoral districts in British Columbia.[3] In 1989, he published Taking action: a strategy for the management of solid wastes as chair of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Task Force.[4]

Electoral History

1996 British Columbia general election: Yale-Lillooet
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Harry Lali	7,080	41.06	-11.25	$41,454
	Liberal	James Rabbitt	5,912	34.29	-13.40	$50,073
	Reform	John Calvin Stinson	3,419	19.83	–	$23,749
	Progressive Democrat	Richard Bennett	706	4.09	–	–
	Family Coalition	Ed Vanwoudenberg	124	0.72	–	$426
Total valid votes			17,241	100.00
Total rejected ballots			76	0.44
Turnout			17,317	72.21
	New Democratic hold		Swing		-12.33

1991 British Columbia general election: Yale-Lillooet
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%	Expenditures
	New Democratic	Harry Lali	7,740	52.31	+7.60	$36,378
	Social Credit	James Rabbitt	7,057	47.69	-0.45	$38,170
Total valid votes			14,797	100.00
Total rejected ballots			697	4.50
Turnout			15,494	72.17
	New Democratic gain from Social Credit		Swing		+4.03

1986 British Columbia general election: Yale-Lillooet
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Social Credit	James Rabbitt	7,424	48.14	-8.64
	New Democratic	Howard C. McDiarmid	6,895	44.71	+4.04
	Liberal	Richard A.Y. Lee	617	4.00	+1.45
	Progressive Conservative	Glenn Henderson	485	3.15	–
Total valid votes			15,421	100.00
Total rejected ballots			277	1.79
Turnout			15,698
	Social Credit hold		Swing		-6.34

References

1. Flanagan, Kathryn M; Miller, Katherine J (Spring 1991). Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
2. "Electoral History of British Columbia, 1871-1986" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
3. Ross, William; Russ, Norman (1989). "Towards a More Equitable Distribution Of Seats in British Columbia". Canadian Parliamentary Review. 12 (1). Retrieved 2012-02-27.
4. Taking action: a strategy for the management of solid wastes. British Columbia. Municipal Solid Waste Management Task Force. 1989. Retrieved 2012-02-27.