MacPhail was first elected to the British Columbia Legislature in 1991 as the MLA for Vancouver-Hastings and served in the cabinets of three NDP premiers.
Under Premier Mike Harcourt, she served as Minister of Social Services from 1993 to 1996. Under Premier Glen Clark, she briefly remained Minister of Social Services, before a cabinet shuffle moved MacPhail into the position of Minister of Health from 1996 to 1998. MacPhail's final cabinet position in the Clark government was as Minister of Finance from 1998 to her departure in 1999, leaving Clark's cabinet at a time when it was suffering from increasing dissent and scandal.
As Finance Minister, MacPhail was tasked with delivering a deficit budget in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which caused a brief recession in British Columbia. MacPhail and the NDP opted for a Keynesian approach to the recession, investing in major construction projects like the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre and investment in the SkyTrain network, all of which were criticized by then-opposition leader Gordon Campbell.[6]
Bid for party leadership
Upon Clark's resignation as NDP leader, MacPhail ran for the party's leadership. MacPhail was characterized in the media as a centrist, promising a Tony Blair-style move to the Third Way and a focus on tax cuts and balanced budgets.[7]
As fellow contender Ujjal Dosanjh consolidated more support, MacPhail withdrew from the race, throwing her support behind Dosanjh to prevent a victory by the Clark-endorsed Gordon Wilson, who was serving as Minister of Education at the time. Wilson, who had jumped from the British Columbia Liberals to the Progressive Democratic Alliance before joining the NDP, would eventually withdraw from the race and endorse Agriculture Minister Corky Evans, who would lose to Dosanjh on the first ballot.[8] Under Dosanjh, she was the Deputy Premier and served as Minister of Labour and, later, Minister of Education.
Final term
The NDP suffered a massive electoral blow in the May 16, 2001, provincial election. Only MacPhail and then-Minister of the Environment, Jenny Kwan, retained their seats. MacPhail held onto her seat by 409 votes. Media noted that MacPhail's campaign benefited from controversy surrounding her Green opponent, Ian Gregson, who had written an explicit article for Hustler Magazine in 1997.[9]
Exactly one month after the election, MacPhail was appointed as the party's interim leader. She was a harsh critic of the new BC Liberal premier Gordon Campbell. Although the NDP was the only other party in the legislature, it was four seats short of official party status. Despite this, Assembly speaker Claude Richmond ensured that the NDP was resourced as an opposition party and MacPhail was recognized by the speaker as the leader of the Opposition.
MacPhail stepped down as leader in 2003 and was succeeded by Carole James. She remained as parliamentary leader of the NDP until her retirement from politics after the 2005 election.
In a profile written regarding MacPhail's retirement in 2005, the Canadian Press erroneously reported that MacPhail is the great-granddaughter of Agnes Macphail, the first woman elected to Canada's Parliament and a founder of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, when, in fact, the two have no familial relation.[10]
In 2006, MacPhail and Shavick purchased OutTV, a Canadian cable television station focused on programming for the LGBTQ+ community. MacPhail, a long-time advocate for the community, expressed interest in producing or starring in some of the network's programming, stating: "It's exciting, I must tell you. This is very nice next step for me!"[12]
^MacPhail launches bid for leadership of B.C. NDP Ex-minister strives to distance herself from priorities, style of Glen Clark Mickleburgh, Rod. The Globe and Mail [Toronto, Ont] 20 Oct 1999: A.4.
^Wilson, Deborah; Matas, Robert (October 22, 1991). "Harcourt faces delicate task in choosing his new cabinet Premier-elect has pledged to appoint only 18 ministers". The Globe and Mail. LexisNexis.
^Lush, Patricia (May 30, 1989). "Climb in union wage rates moderates in first quarter". The Globe and Mail. LexisNexis.
^Bell, Stewart (September 20, 1991). "Unions poised to challenge Socreds on labor policy during campaign". Vancouver Sun. LexisNexis.
^Constantineau, Bruce (September 19, 1998). ".C. deficit $ 72 million worse than anticipated: Finance Minister Joy MacPhail admits families in the province are hit by recession". Vancouver Sun. LexisNexis.
^Mulgrew, Ian; Ward, Doug (February 5, 2000). "...and the also-rans: Joy MacPhail: Tony Blair plus Girlpower equalled a quick exit". Vancouver Sun. LexisNexis.
^Culbert, Lori; MacInnes, Craig (January 10, 2000). "MacPhail-Dosanjh alliance polarizes leadership race: Joy MacPhail quits, saying she's worried Gordon Wilson is gaining momentum". Vancouver Sun. LexisNexis.
^"Former NDP leader buys TV network: Joy MacPhail and husband become majority owners of gay station in Toronto". The Canadian Press. LexisNexis. July 20, 2006.
^O'Neil, Peter; Ward, Doug (September 14, 2011). "NDP's Topp secures support in B.C.; Joy MacPhail, Dawn Black among those endorsing". Vancouver Sun. LexisNexis.
