David Maurice Mercier (July 20, 1939 – April 12, 2021) was a Canadian politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991, as a Social Credit member for the constituency of Burnaby-Edmonds. In 1991, he served several months as British Columbia's Minister of Environment. He was a chartered accountant. Mercier was mayor of Burnaby, British Columbia from 1979 to 1981.[1] He previously ran unsuccessfully in Burnaby-Edmonds in the 1966 provincial election as a Liberal candidate and in Burnaby-Willingdon in the 1972 provincial election as a Social Credit candidate.

Dave Mercier
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Burnaby-Edmonds
In office
October 22, 1986 – October 17, 1991
Preceded byRosemary Brown
Succeeded byFred G. Randall
Personal details
Born(1939-07-20)July 20, 1939
Vancouver, British Columbia
DiedApril 12, 2021(2021-04-12) (aged 81)
Political partyConservative
Social Credit
OccupationChartered accountant

On October 3, 1989, Mercier and three colleagues — Graham Bruce, Duane Delton Crandall, and Doug Mowat — quit the governing Social Credit caucus to sit as "Independent Social Credit" members. In a joint statement, the four stressed that they "in no way desire[d] the fall of our government", but wished to spur an "open and realistic assessment" of Bill Vander Zalm's continued leadership.[2] Mercier returned the Socred caucus on February 14, 1990, alongside Bruce and Mowat (Crandall had already rejoined caucus in January). Mercier explained his move by saying his concerns about Vander Zalm's leadership and re-election chances had been addressed.[3]

He was the leader of the British Columbia Conservative Party between 1997 until 2001.[4] Mercier died in 2021 from complications of Parkinson's disease.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "Search Results - 32 records | Heritage Burnaby". search.heritageburnaby.ca. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. ^ Leyne, Les; Heiman, Carolyn (1989-10-04). "Four Socreds quit caucus". Times Colonist. pp. A1–A2.
  3. ^ "Valentine for Vander Zalm: Dissident MLAs will return to Socred fold". Times Colonist. 1990-02-15. pp. A3.
  4. ^ Guide Parlementaire Canadien. 1991. ISBN 9780921925408.
  5. ^ Campbell, Chris (April 26, 2021). "Former Burnaby mayor and MLA dies after Parkinson's battle". Burnaby Now. Glacier Media Group. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Obituary: David Maurice Mercier". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved May 17, 2022.