Glen Clark
| Glen David Clark | |
|---|---|
 Glen Clark at the 2011 NDP convention | |
| 31st Premier of British Columbia | |
|
In office February 22, 1996 – August 25, 1999 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Lieutenant Governor | Garde Gardom |
| Preceded by | Mike Harcourt |
| Succeeded by | Dan Miller |
| Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations of British Columbia | |
|
In office November 5, 1991 – September 15, 1993 | |
| Premier | Mike Harcourt |
| Preceded by | John Jansen |
| Succeeded by | Elizabeth Cull |
| Minister of Employment and Investment of British Columbia | |
|
In office September 15, 1993 – February 22, 1996 | |
| Premier | Mike Harcourt |
| Succeeded by | Dan Miller |
| Minister Responsible for Youth of British Columbia | |
|
In office February 28, 1996 – August 25, 1999 | |
| Premier | Glen Clark |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Petter |
| MLA for Vancouver East | |
|
In office October 22, 1986 – October 17, 1991 Serving with Robert Arthur Williams | |
| Preceded by |
Dave Barrett Alexander Macdonald |
| Succeeded by | riding dissolved |
| MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway | |
|
In office October 17, 1991 – May 16, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | first member |
| Succeeded by | Rob Nijjar |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
November 22, 1957 Nanaimo, British Columbia |
| Political party | British Columbia New Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Dale Clark |
Glen David Clark (born November 22, 1957) is a Canadian business executive and former politician, serving as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from 1996 to 1999.
Early life and education
Clark attended St. Jude’s Elementary and Notre Dame Secondary in East Vancouver. At Notre Dame, Clark was known as a small, fearless linebacker for the football team. Notre Dame is also where Clark was student council president and played the lead male role in "The Sound of Music" and later performed in South Pacific.[1] Clark holds a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University and a master's degree from the University of British Columbia. Before entering politics he worked in the labour movement.[2]
Politics
Clark was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 1986 provincial election. He served as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations and then as the Minister of Employment and Investment in the government of Mike Harcourt.[2] When Harcourt resigned as a result of the Bingogate scandal, Clark stood for and won the leadership of the BC NDP and therefore became BC's 31st premier. Clark called an election in 1996 in which his party narrowly held onto its majority. Although it received fewer votes across the province than the second-place BC Liberal Party, the NDP was able to hold on to power by winning all but eight seats in Vancouver.
Scandals
Fast ferry scandal
In an effort to revitalize a shipbuilding industry, Clark undertook the B.C. fast ferries initiative, which was designed to upgrade the existing BC Ferries fleet as well as jump start the shipbuilding industry in Vancouver. Although the ferries were eventually produced, the project had massive cost overruns and long delays, and the ferries were never able to function up to expectations.[3] The ferries were later sold by the incoming Liberal government, for a fraction of their original price, to the American owned Washington Marine Group.[3]
Casinogate
In March 1999, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police executed a search warrant and searched the Clark household.[4] The media was tipped off about the raid and television news showed live, primetime coverage of the premier pacing inside his house while the search was conducted. Two weeks later the RCMP conducted a search of the Premier's Office.[5]
The subsequent investigation spawned intense coverage by the media.[6] However, subsequent coverage also exposed numerous inaccuracies in the way the story was initially portrayed, with some critics alleging a media or RCMP conspiracy to smear him for ideological reasons.[7]
Clark resigned suddenly on the night of August 21, 1999, following allegations that he had accepted favours (in the form of free renovations worth $10,000, which he had actually paid for) from Dimitrios Pilarinos in return for approving a casino application.[8] He was later formally charged with committing breach of trust, a criminal offence.[9]
Conflict of interest commissioner H.A.D. Oliver concluded in 2001 that Clark had violated conflict of interest laws in British Columbia.[6] However, Clark was acquitted of all criminal charges by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on August 29, 2002,[9] with Justice Elizabeth Bennett ruling that while Clark had unwisely left himself open to a perception of unethical behaviour, there was no solid evidence that he had actually done anything illegal.[10]
After political life
Upon Clark's resignation, Deputy Premier Dan Miller acceded to the interim leadership of the New Democratic Party, and the premiership, until a leadership convention selected Ujjal Dosanjh. Due in part to the scandals surrounding Clark, the NDP was heavily defeated by the BC Liberals under Gordon Campbell in the 2001 provincial election, winning just two seats provincewide.
Clark is currently employed as president of the Jim Pattison Group[1] and president of The News Group North America.
References
- 1 2 "Funny things happen when Glen Clark meets Jimmy Pattison". Vancouver Sun. January 31, 2009. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
- 1 2 "Mr. Glen Clark | Members at dissolution of 36th Parliament | Legislative Assembly of British Columbia". Leg.bc.ca. Retrieved 2012-07-17.
- 1 2 "B.C. fast ferries' voyage to oblivion leads to Middle East". Vancouver Sun, July 30, 2009.
- ↑ "RCMP Raid BC Premier's House". Maclean's. The Canadian Encyclopedia. March 15, 1999. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
- ↑ Beatty, Jim (March 20, 1999). "Clark's aides now reveal police searched his office: The 90-minute search Tuesday was not disclosed until Friday by the premier's press secretary, who called the visit "routine."". The Vancouver Sun. p. A4.
- 1 2 Judi Tyabji Wilson, Daggers Unsheathed: The Political Assassination of Glen Clark. Heritage House Publishing Co., 2002.
- ↑ "The conspiracy to get Glen Clark, or not". National Post, August 31, 2002.
- ↑ "Glen Clark steps down under pressure". CBC News, August 21, 1999.
- 1 2 Glen Clark at The Canadian Encyclopedia.
- ↑ "Glen Clark not guilty in breach of trust case". CBC News, August 29, 2002.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glen Clark. |
