Glen Clark
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- For the baseball player, see Glen Clark
- For the former lacrosse coach & player, see Glenn Clark
| Glen David Clark | |
|---|---|
| Hon. Glen Clark | |
| 31st Premier of British Columbia | |
| In office February 22, 1996 – August 25, 1999 |
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| 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 |
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| Premier | Michael 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 | Michael Harcourt |
| Succeeded by | Dan Miller |
| Minister Responsible for Youth of British Columbia | |
| In office February 28, 1996 – August 25, 1999 |
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| Premier | Glen Clark |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Petter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 22, 1957 Nanaimo, British Columbia |
| Political party | New Democratic Party of British Columbia |
| Spouse(s) | Dale Clark |
Glen David Clark (born November 22, 1957 in Nanaimo, British Columbia) is a politician in British Columbia, Canada who served as the 31st Premier of British Columbia from 1996 to 1999.
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[edit] Early life and education
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.[1]
[edit] Politics
Clark was first elected to the BC Legislature 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 won a majority of seats, despite receiving fewer votes across the province than the second-place BC Liberal Party.
[edit] Scandals
[edit] 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.[citation needed] The ferries were later sold by the incoming Liberal government, for a fraction of their original price, to the American owned Washington Marine Group.[citation needed]
[edit] Casino scandal
In March 1999, the R.C.M.P. executed a search warrant and searched the Clark household.[citation needed] 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.[citation needed]
The subsequent investigation spawned a media circus. It was never explained why the RCMP chose to invite BCTV to be present.
Clark resigned suddenly on the night of August 25, 1999 following allegations that he had accepted favours (in the form of free renovations worth $10,000) from Dimitrios Pilarinos in return for approving a casino application. He was later formally charged with committing breach of trust, a criminal offense.
Conflict of Interest Commissioner H.A.D. Oliver concluded[3] that Clark had violated conflict of interest laws in British Columbia. However, Clark was acquitted of all criminal charges on August 29, 2002. Justice Elizabeth Bennett of the Supreme Court of British Columbia ruled that "there is nothing in his conduct that crosses the line from an act of folly to behaviour calling for criminal sanctions."
[edit] After political life
Clark was succeeded as Premier of B.C. by Deputy Premier Dan Miller, briefly, until a leadership convention selected Ujjal Dosanjh. After Clark left office, the BC Liberal Party led by Gordon Campbell won a landslide election in 2001.
Clark is currently employed as President of the Jim Pattison Group and president of The News Group North America.
He has a wife, Dale and two children Reid (December 31, 1987) and Layne (April 26, 1990).
[edit] References
Rayner, William. British Columbia's Premiers in Profile: The Good, The Bad, and The Transient. Surrey BC: Heritage House Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN 1-895811-71-6.
[edit] External links
- Link to Glen Clark Conflict of Interest ruling
- BC Supreme Court ruling on the Clark-Pilarinos case
- Glen David Clark
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