# John Oliver (British Columbia politician)

John Oliver (July 31, 1856 – August 17, 1927) was a British-Canadian politician and farmer, who served as the 19th premier of British Columbia. As a prominent figure in the province’s early political landscape, Oliver served in various capacities, including as leader of the Opposition and minister of Agriculture, and contributed significantly to the development of British Columbia’s agricultural and railway sectors.
A member of the former British Columbia Liberal Party, Oliver was first elected to the provincial legislature in the 1900 provincial election. After serving as the leader of the Opposition, he lost his seat in 1909 but returned the legislature in the 1916 election. That year, he was appointed minister of Agriculture and minister of Railways in premier Harlan Carey Brewster's cabinet. Following Brewster's death in 1918, Oliver succeeded him as premier.
In addition to his role as premier, Oliver held the portfolios of minister of Agriculture (1918), minister of Railways (1918–1922), and minister of industry (1919–1922). Under his leadership, his administration prioritized agricultural development, notably in the Okanagan Valley, which became a hub for the province's produce industry. Oliver's government also advocated for reduced rail freight rates to improve the economic viability of British Columbia’s agricultural exports.
A notable moment in Oliver's tenure was the 1923 visit of U.S. president Warren G. Harding to Vancouver, marking the first visit of a sitting U.S. president to Canada.
Oliver served as premier until his death in 1927. His legacy endures through numerous places named in his honor, including John Oliver Secondary School in Vancouver, John Oliver Park in Delta, Mount John Oliver in the Cariboo Mountains' Premier Range, the town of Oliver, British Columbia, and Oliver Street in Williams Lake, British Columbia.

## Electoral history

vte1900 British Columbia general election: Westminster-Delta :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Government | John Oliver | 324 | 45.51 |
| | Conservative | John Walter Berry | 215 | 30.20 |
| | Progressive | Thomas William Forster | 173 | 24.30 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 712 | 100.00 |
10th British Columbia election, 1903 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | William Henry Ladner | 309 | 40.87% | unknown |
| | Liberal | John Oliver | 447 | 59.13% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 756 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
11th British Columbia election, 1907 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 261 | 37.77% | unknown |
| | Liberal | John Oliver | 430 | 62.23% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 691 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
12th British Columbia election, 1909 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 765 | 58.13% | unknown |
| | Liberal | John Oliver | 551 | 41.87% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,316 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
| $^1$ Results of recount as reported in New Westminster Columbian 29 November 1909, p. 1 |||||||
13th British Columbia election, 1912 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | Expenditures |
| | Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 748 | 70.83% | unknown |
| | Liberal | John Oliver | 308 | 29.17% | unknown |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,056 | 100.00% |
| Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | Total rejected ballots | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | % | |
vte1920 British Columbia general election: Delta :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Liberal | John Oliver | 1,334 | 37.50 |
| | Soldier–Farmer | Richmond Archie Payne | 1,107 | 31.12 |
| | Conservative | Francis James Anderson MacKenzie | 964 | 21.55 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 3,557 | 100.00 |