Mike Nixon (politician) explained

Mike Nixon
Residence:Whitehorse, Yukon
Office1:MLA for Porter Creek South
Term Start1:October 11, 2011
Term End1:November 7, 2016
Predecessor1:Don Inverarity
Successor1:Ranj Pillai
Office2:Minister of Health and Social Services
Term Start2:January 16, 2015
Term End2:December 3, 2016
Predecessor2:Doug Graham
Successor2:Pauline Frost
Office3:Minister of Justice
Minister of Tourism and Culture
Term Start3:November 5, 2011
Term End3:January 16, 2015
Predecessor3:Marian Horne
Elaine Taylor
Successor3:Brad Cathers
Elaine Taylor
Occupation:Businessman

Mike Nixon is a Canadian politician, who was elected to in the Yukon Legislative Assembly in the 2011 election.[1] He represented the electoral district of Porter Creek South as a member of the Yukon Party caucus until 2016.

Political career

Nixon first attempted to enter politics as the Yukon Party candidate in Yukon New Democrat stronghold of Whitehorse Centre, which had been vacated following the death of New Democrat leader Todd Hardy from cancer. Nixon lost his bid to Hardy's successor, Liz Hanson, finishing third in the December 13, 2010 by-election.[2]

Nixon sought election once again the following year during the 2011 Yukon election as the Yukon Party candidate in the Whitehorse riding of Porter Creek South, long-considered a Liberal stronghold. Nixon successfully defeated Liberal incumbent Don Inverarity by just 14 votes. It was the first time the Yukon Party had been elected in the riding of Porter Creek South. Following the election, Nixon was appointed to the Cabinet of Yukon Premier Darrell Pasloski as Minister of Justice and Minister of Tourism and Culture.[3]

In January 2015, Nixon was moved to Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister responsible for the Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board.[4] He received criticism during his time as Minister of Health and Social Services for the government's inadequate planning of healthcare and continuing care spaces in the territory[5] and for its failure to deliver an adequate mental health strategy,[6]

Nixon announced his intention to seek re-election in the 2016 Yukon election, but was defeated by former Whitehorse city councillor and Yukon Liberal candidate Ranj Pillai. He was one of four Yukon Party Cabinet ministers to be defeated in that election, in which the party was reduced to Official Opposition status.

Personal life

Nixon, originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario, has an honours diploma from Humber College. He moved to the Yukon in 1998. Nixon has owned and operated several businesses, including a graphics design company and a property management firm. He is also a co-founder of Autism Yukon.[7]

Nixon is the former son-in-law of Yukon Conservative Senator Dan Lang[8] and has served as President and Treasurer of the Yukon Party.[9]

After his electoral defeat, Nixon became Vice-President of Property Management at Northern Vision Development.

Electoral record

Yukon general election, 2016

|- | style="width: 130px" |Liberal|Ranj Pillai|align="right"|337|align="right"|46.6%|align="right"| +6.0%|NDP|Shirley Chua-Tan|align="right"|102|align="right"|14.1%|align="right"| -2.4%|- bgcolor="white"!align="left" colspan=3|Total!align="right"|724!align="right"|100.0%!align="right"|  -

Yukon general election, 2011

|-| Liberal| Don Inverarity| align="right"| 243| align="right"| 40.6%| align="right"| -2.8%| NDP| John Carney| align="right"| 99| align="right"| 16.5%| align="right"| +2.6%|- bgcolor="white"!align="left" colspan=3|Total! align=right| 599! align=right| 100.0%! align=right|  - |}

2010 by-election

|NDP|Liz Hanson|align="right"| 356|align="right"| 51.6%|align="right"| +5.0%|- |Liberal|Kirk Cameron|align="right"| 181|align="right"| 26.2%|align="right"| -1.3%|-|-! align=left colspan=3|Total! align=right| 690! align=right| 100.0%! align=right|  - |}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Yukon Votes 2011: Porter Creek South. CBC News. October 11, 2011. 2016-05-15.
  2. Web site: 'Tonight is just the beginning,' victor vows. Whitehorse Daily Star. December 10, 2010. 2016-05-15.
  3. Web site: Premier taps experience in crafting cabinet. Whitehorse Daily Star. November 7, 2011. 2016-05-15.
  4. Web site: Brad Cathers demoted, Scott Kent boosted in Yukon cabinet shuffle. CBC News. January 15, 2015. 2016-05-15.
  5. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-hospital-bed-shortage-nixon-meeting-1.3633549 Yukon hospital bed shortage prompts minister to call meeting
  6. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-health-minister-grilled-over-lack-of-mental-health-strategy-1.3024589 Yukon health minister grilled over lack of mental health strategy
  7. http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca/fr/mlas/953.html L'honourable Mike Nixon
  8. http://yukon-news.com/news/fentie-triggers-downtown-election Fentie triggers downtown election
  9. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/yukon-election-riding-profile-porter-creek-south-1.3827379 RIDING PROFILE | Porter Creek South — Shirley Chua-Tan, Mike Nixon, Ranj Pillai