Spencer Chandra Herbert is a Canadian politician who serves in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Canada. Representing the British Columbia New Democratic Party (BC NDP), he won an October 2008 by-election in the electoral district of Vancouver-Burrard. He was re-elected to the Legislature, this time in the newly created riding of Vancouver-West End, in the 2009, 2013, and 2017 general elections.
Chandra Herbert's BC NDP formed the Official Opposition in both the 38th and 39th and 40th British Columbia parliaments, and he was assigned to be the party's critic on tourism, arts and culture and later the critic on environment. He has introduced several private members' bills which were not adopted themselves, but some of the measures were partly or completely adopted by the government later. Examples include provisions to include gender identity or expression among the protected grounds of discrimination in the British Columbia Human Rights Code and measures to address the re-selling of tickets at prices higher than advertised. He also sponsored the Long Term Tenants Protection Act, and the more comprehensive Residential Tenancy Amendment Act, meant to address evictions and high rent increases that were occurring in Vancouver's West End neighbourhood.
Prior to becoming an MLA, he was elected to the Vancouver Park Board. He served as a Park Board commissioner between 2005 and 2008 as a member of the municipal Coalition of Progressive Electors party. While on the Park Board, he voted against removing the requirement for a referendum on an expansion of the Vancouver Aquarium but later voted in favour of the expansion. He advocated for bicycle valet service at large public events, investigating environmentally friendly means of disposing of animal waste, and implementing a zero-net-loss-of-greenspace policy.
Chandra Herbert is openly gay and married his partner, Romi Chandra, in March 2010. Afterwards, he legally changed his name to Spencer Chandra Herbert. Both men have been active supporting causes within the LGBT community. At the provincial level, Chandra Herbert has advocated for a community victim services worker in Davie Village, a specialized telephone line for people to call to report incidents involving gay-bashing or verbal and physical assaults, and for school boards to include LGBT issues, especially in anti-bullying lessons.
Background
Born and raised in Vancouver, Chandra Herbert attended Prince of Wales Mini School and graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He has worked in various jobs in the entertainment and culture industry, such as being a manager of a dance company, and a worker at the Roundhouse Community Centre. He worked as a producer of the United Nations World Urban Forum Arts and Culture Festival, and been involved with the Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association and the GLBT Centre. He has volunteered with Qmunity, the Coal Harbour Residents Association, the West End Residents Association, and the Save St. Paul's Coalition. In 2006, he won a City of Vancouver Youth Award in the "Youth 19 – 24" category.
In the November 2005 municipal elections, Chandra Herbert was a COPE nominee for the Vancouver Park Board. The 24-year-old Hebert was one of two COPE nominees to be elected, with the NPA taking the five other seats. On the Board, Chandra Herbert resisted using the park funds to pay for Olympic-related projects. Chandra Herbert and fellow COPE board member Loretta Woodcock, resisted the Board decision to eliminate the culture and recreation committee by continuing the committee by themselves. Chandra Herbert voted with the board in opposing a proposal to bring animatronic dinosaurs to Stanley Park. Following the December 2006 windstorm that hit Stanley Park, Chandra Herbert held the first fundraiser assist rehabilitation and enlisted local wood-turners and wood-workers in salvaging trees. In response to homeless people camping in public parks, Chandra Herbert suggested that the city open regulated tent cities, which was quickly rejected by the mayor.