16 Facts About Andrew Petter

Andrew Petter represented the electoral district of Saanich South in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1991 to 2001.

Andrew Petter served as board chair of provincial Crown agency Innovate BC from 2021 to 2024, and was elected to be a director of Coast Capital Savings Credit Union in April 2024.

Andrew Petter has written extensively about the role of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and its effect on government powers and decision making.

Andrew Petter was born in Victoria, British Columbia in 1953, and grew up in the adjacent suburb of Oak Bay.

Andrew Petter's grandfather Ernest Petter was an English industrialist who unsuccessfully ran for the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on three occasions before moving to the Vancouver Island town of Comox in 1938; he then lived for a while in Saanich before moving back to the UK in 1954.

Andrew Petter was on tour in London when she met Ernest Petter's son Gordon; the couple married in Vienna and lived there until the Anschluss.

Andrew Petter began studying political science at the University of Victoria in 1976, then entered the school's law program in 1978, graduating with an LL.

Andrew Petter subsequently attended Cambridge University on a Commonwealth Scholarship, receiving an LL.

Andrew Petter briefly worked at the Saskatchewan Department of Justice, serving as the Constitutional Branch's adviser.

Andrew Petter then taught at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto as an assistant professor between 1984 and 1986, before joining his alma mater, the University of Victoria Faculty of Law in 1986, becoming associate professor in 1988.

Andrew Petter was named Minister of Aboriginal Affairs in November 1991 by Premier Harcourt.

Andrew Petter then served as Minister of Forests from September 1993 to February 1996, with the BC Forest Practices Code being established during his term.

Andrew Petter then served as Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations from February 1998 onwards, adding the role of Minister Responsible for Youth in August 1999 after Clark resigned and Dan Miller took over as premier and interim NDP leader.

Andrew Petter declined to run again in the 2001 provincial election, and was dropped from the cabinet in November 2000, replaced in both roles by Graeme Bowbrick.

Andrew Petter was named president and vice-chancellor of Simon Fraser University in January 2010, starting his term on September 1 that year.

From 2021 to 2024, Andrew Petter was served as chair of the board of directors of Innovate BC, a provincial Crown agency responsible for supporting innovation and growth in the technology sector in British Columbia.