Libby’s Bio

Libby Davies has been a social activist for 50 plus years and began as a community organizer in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside in 1972. She was elected to Vancouver City Council for 5 consecutive terms, 1982-1993. As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East for six consecutive terms, 1997-2015, she became NDP House Leader, (2003-2011) and Deputy Leader (2007-2015). Libby has been an outspoken advocate for human rights, housing, peace, and social justice throughout her political life.

She was named to the Order of Canada in 2016, and invested to the Order in May 2018, and received the City of Vancouver Civic Merit Award in November 2018.  Libby was appointed to the board of governors of Vancouver Community College in 2018 . She is also a board member of Canadians For Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) since 2021.  

Libby has published numerous articles and contributed to numerous books on peace, housing, LGBTQ+ rights, Palestine, the Downtown Eastside, sex worker rights, drug user rights, and women’s rights. She is the author of “Outside In: A Political Memoir”, May 2019,  published by Between The Lines, Toronto.  She is continues to write. She is currently the co-host of “Off The Hill”, a live monthly political panel on rabble.ca

She has received awards and recognition from organizations such as Capital Xtra’s Community Achievement Award for Political Activist of the Year; the YMCA Peace Medal Award; and the Vancouver and District Labour Council’s Syd Thompson Award. Libby received the Justice Gerald LeDain Award for Achievement in the Field of Law, for her work on drug policy reform from the Drug Policy Alliance (USA), and the Visionary Award from Jer’s Vision. In 2015, she was awarded the Canadian Public Health Association National Public Hero Award, and in 2017,  Libby was awarded the Aids Vancouver Red Ribbon award. Libby was named to the Order of Canada in 2016, and invested to the Order in May 2018. She received the City of Vancouver Civic Merit Award in 2018. Libby was awarded the YWCA Woman of Distinction award in 2022.

Libby was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East in 1997. She was re-elected in November 2000, June 2004, January 2006, October 2008, and May 2011. Libby was also the Official Opposition Spokesperson for Health and the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Health from May 2011 until January 2015. She was Deputy Leader of the federal NDP from 2007-2015. Libby also served as the NDP House Leader from 2003 to March 2011. After serving 6 terms, and 18 years, as the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, Libby did not run in the 2015 general federal election.

As a Parliamentarian, Libby was Co-Chair of the HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis Caucus, an all-party parliamentary caucus which involved parliamentarians in national and international efforts to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis and improve the lives of those living with these diseases. She was a key player in global parliamentary efforts around health and HIV/AIDS, serving as the Chair of Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU), Advisory Group on HIV/AIDS and Maternal and Child Health.

As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver East, Libby provided a strong voice for Vancouver East. She consistently raised issues of concern to her constituents in Parliament, including: community safety; the need for a national childcare program; and affordable and accessible post-secondary education. Libby was a tireless advocate in Parliament for a national housing program, and successfully forced federal governments to address this basic human right. Libby’s community office helped hundreds of residents with federal government matters such as immigration, student loans, employment insurance, taxation, pensions, and Aboriginal affairs.

Libby has been an outspoken advocate for drug policy reforms to stop the criminalization of people who use drugs, and the harm caused by Canada’s prohibitionist policies. Her work also involved advocating for sex worker rights and defeating the criminalization of sex workers.

Her history as a strong community activist for Vancouver began over 50 years ago. She and her late partner, Bruce Eriksen, were key figures in the formation of the Downtown Eastside Residents’ Association (DERA) in 1973. In 10 years of community organizing, Libby developed her strong grassroots approach to working with people and diverse communities. In 1982, Libby was elected to Vancouver City Council and served 5 consecutive terms. She became involved in every community issue; from protecting community services to developing affordable housing, fighting for parks and working for the elimination of poverty. In her capacity as a Vancouver City Councillor, Libby also served on the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD); now know as Metro Vancouver, and the Vancouver Public Library Board.  From 1994 to 1997, Libby worked with the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) serving in the role of Ombudsperson for Human Rights, Complaints Investigator, and Coordinator of Human Resources. 

Libby is a frequent media commentator, and public speaker, including, the CBC Early Edition, CBC, National NPR, and Global TV.  Her speaking engagements include the SFU Grace McInnes lecture, Vancouver and District Labour Council, Columbia Institute,  On The Road Podcast with Ian Capstick, Witness to Innocence Conference, Florida, LGBTQ+ Conference, Ottawa, West Coast Child Care Resource Centre, Food Secure Canada, Inauguration of Vancouver City Council, 2018, Vancouver City Planning Commission Forum, Langara Community College,  BCTF Bargaining Conference, Canadian Centre For Gender and Sexual Diversity, and RESULTS Canada, NUPGE Leaderships schools, Heart of the City Festival, Denman Island Writers Festival, Miami Book Fair, CODE PINK, USA.

Born in 1953 in England, Libby came to Canada in 1968. She moved to Vancouver in 1969 and has one son, Lief Eriksen. She lives with her partner, Kimberly Elliott.