Debra Toporowski

'Debra-Ann Patricia Toporowski ) is a Canadian politician who has served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) representing the electoral district of Cowichan Valley since 2024. She is a member of the New Democratic Party, she was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health of British Columbia in 2024.

First elected as a councillor for the Cowichan Tribes in 2013, Toporowski was re-elected for five terms. She ran as a candidate for the municipal council of North Cowichan in 2018 and served two terms. At the time of her election as an MLA, she was serving as a councillor in both bodies, amid other engagements including serving as acting mayor for North Cowichan and as the director for North Cowichan on the Cowichan Valley Regional District board. Toporowski previously worked as a constituency assistant for MLAs Bill Routley and Doug Routley.

Early life and career Toporowski was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley. She is of First Nations and Chinese descent, the child of Ethel Jack and Howard Wong. She had three brothers and two sisters. Her maternal grandparents are Rosie Peter and Stephen Jack from Quamichan, and her paternal grandparents are Chung Yoi Wong and Sue Yee Wong from Duncan. Toporowski was barred from membership within the Cowichan Tribes prior to 1985, due to the provisions of the Indian Act; her mother was forced to relinquish her Indian status due to her marriage to a Chinese-Canadian man. Toporowski's name in Quw’utsun is Qwulti’stunaat.

Toporowski has been a member of the New Democratic Party since 2005, She was succeeded by D'Arcy Joe Jr., who received the next highest number of votes during the previous election.

She was first elected councillor in the municipality of North Cowichan in 2018, She had recused herself from a proposed development that was planned across the local hospital, citing her perceived conflict of interest. She had been on a leave of absence since September 5, 2024 in order to focus on the provincial election campaign,

Provincial politics

Toporowski was acclaimed as the BC NDP's candidate for the riding of Cowichan Valley on May 11, 2024, with Premier David Eby announcing such in Duncan, British Columbia. The riding had been adjusted during the 2021 British Columbia electoral redistribution, and had been represented by Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau, who was vacating her seat to run in the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill. Toporowski faced four other candidates for the seat: Jon Coleman (unaffiliated, former BC United Sarah Simpson in the Cowichan Valley Citizen described the riding as having been initially a three horse race, but with the Greens falling out following Fursteneau's departure.

Toporowski was subject to election sign vandalism during her campaign, having her face cut out of one sign and having another melted. She recalled her husband and grandson being subject to verbal harassment while putting up signs for her campaign.

Toporowski was successful in her bid for the riding, Sarah Simpson writing for the Cowichan Valley Citizen described the count as a "back-and-forth battle" and "a true nail-biter between the Conservatives and NDP." Following her election, she was named Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health in November 2024. She succeeds Jennifer Rice, who chose not to run for re-election.

Political positions Speaking with My Cowichan Valley Now'' during her 2018 municipal candidacy, Toporowski highlighted "water, affordable housing, and social issues" as the most important issues in North Cowichan.

Toporowski highlighted her agreement with David Eby's action plan regarding housing in British Columbia, highlighting the creation of 300,000 homes in the province. She expressed her support for rent controls and efforts to crack down on housing speculation and short-term rentals.

In an all-candidates forum on held on October 7, 2024, Toporowski highlighted community safety improvements due to bail reform, and increasing bed capacity in order to continue treatment options. She stated that her goal was to "get those struggling with addiction connected with the right care, and places when they are ready for treatment." Toporowski cited her involvement with Our Cowichan Community Health Network towards giving her insight on the gaps in services for vulnerable individuals in society.

Personal life Toporowski lives in Chemainus, and had previously lived in Duncan, British Columbia for 42 years.

Electoral history