Laurie Throness
Laurie Throness (born 1958) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election. He represented the electoral district of Chilliwack-Kent as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party. After making controversial remarks regarding the NDP's free contraception plan, he resigned from the BC Liberal Party caucus on October 15, 2020. He ran as an independent candidate in the 2020 BC general election. Before becoming a politician, Throness earned a place at the University of Cambridge where he studied for a Ph.D in History. After Cambridge, he went on to publish a book in 2008 on the theological origins of the Penitentiary Act of 1779.
Laurie Throness MLA | |
|---|---|
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Chilliwack-Kent Chilliwack-Hope (2013-2017) | |
| In office May 14, 2013 – September 21, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Gwen O'Mahony |
| Succeeded by | Kelli Paddon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1959 or 1960 (age 64–65) Grande Prairie, Alberta |
| Political party | BC Liberal Independent |
| Residence(s) | Chilliwack, BC |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Profession | Historian |
Throness was previously the party's candidate in the electoral district of Chilliwack-Hope in a by-election in 2012, following the resignation of Barry Penner, but was defeated by Gwen O'Mahony of the New Democrats. He defeated O'Mahony in the 2013 general election, capturing 49.15% of votes cast compared to her 36.01% share of the vote. The BC Conservative candidate received 10.77% of the votes, and the Green Party candidate received 4.07%.