John Yap

John Yap
Born	1959 Singapore
Occupation(s)	Public official, former banking professional, politician
Years active	2005–2020 (politics)
Known for	Representative for Richmond-Steveston in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia; Minister of State for Climate Action; Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism; Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology

John Yap (; born 1959) is a Canadian public official and former banking professional. He served as the representative for the electoral district of Richmond-Steveston in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2005 until 2020, aligned with the BC Liberal faction. During his tenure, he held positions including Minister of State for Climate Action, Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism, and Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology under the leadership of premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark.

Personal life and family

Yap, who is of Hokkien heritage, was born in Singapore to a mother who was a homemaker and a father practicing medicine. In 1986, his family relocated to Canada, establishing their home in Richmond, British Columbia. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 and an MBA in 1983 from the University of British Columbia. Yap’s professional background includes two decades in banking with Toronto-Dominion Bank and experience in financial planning at Investors Group.

He has been actively involved with the Richmond Sunset Rotary Club, where he served as president from 1999 to 2000, and holds honorary membership with the Vancouver Diamond Lions Club. His community engagement extended to participation in Gilmore Park United Church and Gilmore Gardens Seniors Centre activities.

Yap is married and has two grown children. Having resided in Richmond for more than twenty years, he underwent heart bypass surgery at Vancouver General Hospital in December 2014. Additionally, he has traveled to his ancestral village located in Yongchun, Fujian.

Political career

Within the Richmond-Steveston constituency, Yap contributed to Geoff Plant’s campaign during the 1996 election and later acted as campaign chairman for Plant’s 2001 electoral bid. Following Plant’s retirement, Yap pursued and won the BC Liberal nomination for Richmond-Steveston ahead of the 2005 election, receiving strong endorsement from Plant.

38th Parliament

During the 38th Provincial General Election on May 17, 2005, Yap secured election to the 38th Parliament of British Columbia, surpassing contenders from the BC NDP, Green Party, and Democratic Reform BC. His legislative responsibilities included membership on the Treasury Board and various committees such as Legislative Review, Sustainable Aquaculture, Public Accounts, Crown Corporations, and Finance and Government Services. In September 2006, Yap was appointed Chair of the BC Government Caucus.

On July 1, 2008, Yap introduced British Columbia’s revenue-neutral carbon tax targeting fuels including gasoline, diesel, natural gas, heating fuel, propane, coal, peat, and energy-generating tires. Instead of channeling funds into government programs, the tax proceeds were returned to taxpayers through reductions in other taxes. To assist low-income households, a refundable Low Income Climate Action Tax Credit was established. Additionally, a $100 Climate Action Dividend was distributed to all residents in 2008.

In 2008, Yap also initiated the Youth Outreach Initiative Program (YOI) aimed at increasing political engagement among young people by exploring subjects such as lowering the voting age to 16, implementing compulsory voting laws, introducing electronic voting options, and improving civic education. These topics were discussed at events including Richmond School District’s Student Leadership Conference.

39th Parliament

During the 39th Provincial General Election held on May 12, 2009, Yap secured re-election by surpassing competitors including NDP contender Sue Wallis, Green Party nominee Jeff Hill, and former BC Conservative leader Barry Chilton.

Minister of State for Climate Action

On June 10, 2009, Premier Gordon Campbell appointed Yap as Minister of State for Climate Action. In this capacity, Yap was responsible for advancing British Columbia's Climate Action Plan, which aimed to reduce carbon emissions by 33% by the year 2020.

Yap played a key role in ensuring that the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games achieved carbon neutrality. He also directed efforts toward carbon neutrality within the public sector, implemented increases in provincial fuel taxes based on carbon content, and founded the Pacific Carbon Trust to manage carbon offset programs specific to British Columbia. Additionally, Yap negotiated an agreement with the California Air Resources Board concerning vehicle emission standards, expanded recycling programs, and advocated for a cap-and-trade system through participation in the Western Climate Initiative.

He forged climate action collaborations with Washington State focused on reducing government emissions and raising awareness about sea level rise. In February 2011, together with Terasen Gas, Yap invested $6.9 million in energy efficiency projects across ten school districts aimed at lowering greenhouse gas emissions and cutting energy expenses. Furthermore, he endorsed the $15-million LiveSmart BC initiative that provided small businesses with complimentary energy-efficiency guidance and financial incentives.

Yap supported the 2009 Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreement (PSECA) between BC Hydro and the provincial government, which resulted in annual savings of $7.4 million and a reduction of over 18,700 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

Retained in Premier Campbell’s final cabinet reshuffle in October 2010, Yap championed both the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax and Campbell’s personal income tax cut on earnings up to $72,000 effective January 2011.

In the 2011 British Columbia Liberal Party leadership election, Yap publicly backed Kevin Falcon, although Christy Clark ultimately won the leadership race.

Parliamentary Secretary for Clean Technology

On March 14, 2011, Yap was named Parliamentary Secretary for Clean Technology under the Minister of Energy and Mines. In this capacity, he engaged with British Columbia’s principal fuel providers and evaluated options for low-carbon transportation fuels to enhance the province’s low carbon fuel standards. Addressing issues related to the cost and supply of premium renewable diesel suitable for cold climates, Yap eased regulations concerning renewable and low carbon fuels. This adjustment contributed to a decrease of 418,919 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions in 2010. In July 2011, Yap led the Bio-Economy Committee, which focused on strategies to grow British Columbia’s bio-economy by fostering collaboration between industry and academic institutions. The provincial government allocated $700,000 to FPInnovations to analyze the bio-economy’s potential and identify economical fiber resources for new initiatives, including those targeting regions affected by the mountain pine beetle.

This funding exemplifies the proactive measures our committee has advocated for to build a stronger and more resilient bio-economy benefiting British Columbians. – John Yap, MLA for Richmond-Steveston

Immigration Task Force

Premier Christy Clark created The British Columbia Immigration Task Force (ITF) on December 8, 2011, appointing Yap as its chair. The task force’s objective was to boost the influx of skilled immigrants and investors into British Columbia by assessing critical government immigration programs. Their findings, presented on March 31, 2012, were informed by eight regional consultations involving industry leaders, stakeholders, and community members. The ITF proposed ten key recommendations, such as:

• Increasing immigration quotas to B.C. without delay
• Expanding the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to aid regional economic growth
• Simplifying economic immigration procedures to align with business needs
• Enhancing promotion of B.C. as an attractive destination for entrepreneurs and investors
• Offering prompt support services to newcomers and employers

The task force cautioned that neglecting to attract skilled immigrants could result in business closures or relocations, negatively impacting the provincial economy. As chair, Yap stressed the critical need for a more streamlined immigration system after consulting with employers facing workforce shortages: Traveling throughout the province reinforced for the task force the urgent necessity of welcoming more skilled immigrants through a responsive and efficient process.

Other portfolios and resignation from cabinet

In March 2012, John Yap was appointed Minister of State for Multiculturalism following the resignation of Harry Bloy. On September 5, 2012, his position was renamed Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism concurrently with his appointment as Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology.

Yap stepped down from Cabinet on March 4, 2013 amid an investigation concerning an outreach controversy involving provincial resources allegedly used to target ethnic voters in support of the BC Liberals prior to the May 14, 2013 provincial election. Nevertheless, he confirmed his intention to seek re-election in that vote.

40th Parliament

During the provincial election held on May 14, 2013, Yap secured re-election with 51% of the popular vote, a decline from his 61% share in 2009. He surpassed opponents representing the NDP, Conservative, Green, and UCBP parties.

In July 2013, Yap received the appointment of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, focusing on Liquor Policy Reform. Additionally, he became a member of both the Cabinet Committee for a Strong Economy and the Legislative Review Committee. He also led a Special Committee tasked with selecting an Auditor General.

41st Parliament

Yap was victorious once again in the 2017 contest, defeating NDP contender Kelly Greene. Although the Liberals obtained the greatest number of seats, they did not achieve a majority and were subsequently defeated in a confidence vote on June 29, 2017. In August 2017, Yap was designated as opposition critic for liquor, gaming, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia. He expanded his responsibilities to include arts and culture in September 2020.

Yap opted not to participate in the 2020 election.

External links

• British Columbia Liberal Party - John Yap (Richmond-Steveston)
• Legislative Assembly of British Columbia - Hon. John Yap