Joan Phillip

Joan Phillip (Carter, formerly Stewart; born June 12, 1952 ) is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant since 2023, as part of the British Columbia New Democratic Party caucus.

An Indigenous leader and climate activist, Phillip grew up in North Vancouver and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. She previously worked as a land manager for the Penticton Indian Band, and ran for the federal New Democrats during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections in the riding of Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola.

Following the 2023 resignation of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Melanie Mark, Phillip was acclaimed as the BC NDP's candidate to contest the by-election. She was elected the riding's MLA at the June 24, 2023, by-election.

Early life and activism
Phillip was born Joan Carter on June 12, 1952, and raised in the city of North Vancouver, British Columbia, spending her childhood between there and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. She was the granddaughter of Tsleil-Waututh actor, writer, and Chief Dan George, and the daughter of Elder Robert "Bob" George, Dan George's son. She was born alongside her twin sister, Joyce. Among her siblings is author Lee Maracle.

Since Phillip was sixteen, she has been involved in political activism. Phillip, then Carter, was a member of the Native Alliance for Red Power (NARP), an Indigenous militant organization established in the 1960s. Glen Coulthard described Phillip, then Carter, in the Routledge Handbook of Critical Indigenous Studies as one of the core NARP members alongside Ray Bobb, Willie Dunn, David Hanuse, and Henry Jack. As an activist, she allied herself with the Palestine Liberation Organization and Black Panthers. In 1975, Carter led a delegation of 18 Western Canadian Indigenous representatives, called the Native Peoples Friendship Delegation, to the People's Republic of China.

Phillip has an extensive career as an environmental activist, having previously worked to oppose the Trans Mountain pipeline, Ajax mine, Site C dam, and the salmon farm industry. In solidarity with the ongoing Oka Crisis in 1990, Phillip and her husband Stewart organized a rail blockade of Seton Portage, being arrested by the RCMP in the process. Phillip alongside her husband are closely associated with one another in activist circles, having protested together since the 1970s. Climate organization 350 degrees Canada dubbed Phillip one of seven candidates to watch during her previous runs for federal office.

Phillip studied Indigenous peoples' resource management at the University of Saskatchewan and at the National Aboriginal Land Managers Association.

Career
Before elected to political office, Phillip worked for a various First Nations organizations including as a youth counsellor at the Outreach Alternate School through Britannia Secondary School, program director at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre (then the Vancouver Indian Centre ), as part of the native police liaison committee in Vancouver, at the First United Church's outreach alternative school, and as the lands manager for the Penticton Indian Band. Phillip was elected as a member of the Penticton Band Council. Phillip retired as land manager for the Pentiction Indian Band in September 2019, having served in the position for 20 years.

Political career
Phillip ran twice for the federal New Democratic Party during the 2019 and 2021 Canadian federal elections before her subsequent win during the 2023 Vancouver-Mount Pleasant provincial by-election. Phillip was a supporter of the New Democrats since "about 1972", during the premiership of Dave Barrett. According to Phillip, she ran for the party twice previously prior to her 2019 run, once provincially and once federally.

Phillip entered federal politics as the New Democratic Party's candidate for the Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola riding during the 2019 election. The seat was held by Dan Albas of the Conservative Party. Phillip was acclaimed as the New Democrats' nominee for the seat on May 4, 2019. She lost to the incumbent, ultimately placing in third.

Phillip ran for the seat of Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola for a second time during the 2021 federal election for a rematch against Albas. She ultimately lost, but moved the New Democrats into second place in the riding. Phillip conceded that her campaign was a long shot, citing the conservative lean of the riding.

Following two unsuccessful runs for federal office in Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, Phillip was parachuted in to the riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant as the nominee for the provincial New Democrats. The seat was vacated upon the resignation of former cabinet minister Melanie Mark. Despite her connections with the Penticton Indian Band, Phillip touted her long-term, ancestral connections to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside including previous employment, experiences in the riding, and family relations. She ran against four candidates, Jackie Lee of B.C. United, Wendy Hayko of the B.C. Greens, Karin Litzcke of the B.C. Conservatives, and Kimball Cariou of the B.C. Communist Party. Phillip ultimately won with 68 percent of the vote, becoming the next MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant.

Phillip's victory was celebrated by the First Nations Leadership Council, a council composed of representatives from the BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, and Union of BC Indian Chiefs. Upon her victory, she became the second ever First Nations woman to serve in British Columbia's Legislative Assembly, after Melanie Mark, her predecessor. Her predecessor, Melanie Mark, stated that a "toxic culture" at the Legislative Assembly contributed to her resignation. In response, Phillip asserted that she would choose to "give any MLAs who are rude to her a good whack with her SIA stick", a stick from a Saskatoon berry tree.

Political positions
Phillip was a supporter of Premier of British Columbia David Eby's proposed rental protection fund, which provided greater abilities for non-profit housing providers to purchase rental buildings slated for redevelopment.

Citing her stepson's death as a result of a carfentanil overdose, Phillip supports access to safe supply and easy to access support services. According to the Vancouver Sun, Phillip was dismayed at BC United's assertions that prescribed opioids contributed to human deaths. Phillip also supported the federal New Democrats' proposal for a universal pharmacare program.

Personal life
Phillip is married to Chief Stewart Phillip, the president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. Both were previously married and had children from their previous relationships. The two of them have five surviving children, fifteen grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Phillip raised three of her children in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. In 2018, Phillip's stepson, Kenny Phillip, died of a Carfentanil overdose, leaving behind six children.

Stewart first encountered Joan Carter after reading Lee Maracle's Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel and seeing her headshot featured in the book. The two met during their time at the Vancouver Indian Centre Society as members of the board. The relationship between the two was strained as a result of Stewart's struggles with alcoholism. Phillip stated that she was clean and sober for 34 years as of May, 2023.

Phillip owns an apartment in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside along with a home in Penticton.