Gary Mar
Encyclopedia
Gary Glen Mar QC
, is a Canadian
politician in Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1993 to 2007. On December 3, 2007, he was appointed as the Official Representative for Alberta in Washington, D.C.
, and worked in the Canadian Embassy with the official title of Minister-Counsellor of the Province of Alberta to the United States
. In March 2011, he resigned his post in order to seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
in its 2011 leadership election
.
, Alberta
as the grandson of Chinese immigrants who came to what is now Alberta before it became a province. He was named after actor Gary Cooper
and astronaut John Glenn
. The son and grandson of entrepreneurs, Mar spent his early years working in his family's restaurants and other businesses. His parents supported his education, and Mar graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
(Finance) at the University of Calgary
(1984) and Bachelor of Laws
at the University of Alberta
(1987).
From 1987 to 1990 Mar worked at the law firm MacKimmie Matthews, Barristers and Solicitors in Calgary and corporate, commercial, and real estate law at Code Hunter, Barristers and Solicitors from 1990 to 1992. He also practiced general law in Calgary.
. He won the electoral district of Calgary Nose Creek
defeating incumbent Liberal MLA Yolande Gagnon
. Premier Ralph Klein had campaigned on a debt-reduction platform, and Mar's first years as a Cabinet minister in the Klein government developed and reinforced his fiscal management and commitment to balanced budgeting. Over 14 years, Mar served as minister responsible for the arts, amateur sport, seniors, education, environment, provincial parks, health care, Alberta's centennial celebrations, Alberta's international offices and international relations, and Alberta's relations with other governments within Canada. He was a member of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Committee, the Members’ Services Committee and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Managing Growth Pressures.
As Minister of Education, Mar introduced First Things First…Our Children, an initiative that focused on school children of all ages. It made a commitment to ensuring children can read well by grade 3, and focused on high standards for junior and senior high school students, keeping them in school and ensuring they have the skills they need when they graduate. As Minister of Health and Wellness, Mar was instrumental in a number of changes to the system with long-lasting results. He ensured primary care networks, in which physicians lead a team of health care professionals. This interdisciplinary, community-accessible approach became the focus of the health system. He reduced the number of health regions; took steps with electronic health records, negotiated for different funding from the federal government of Canada, and worked with the physicians union to create a controversial model for their pay.
in Washington, D.C. Leading up to the Folklife Festival, Alberta Week in Washington included forums and meetings between Alberta leaders and U.S. decision makers and policy makers in Washington, D.C.
On September 27, 2007, Mar was named Alberta Envoy in Washington, D.C. The Alberta Office in Washington is co-located in the Canadian Embassy and is geared to representing Alberta’s interests to U.S. policymakers and seeking out opportunities for the province.
Over four years, Mar led U.S. senators, congressmen and industry members to tour Alberta's oil sands
, and promoted Alberta energy, agriculture and other products and opportunities in Washington and across the Untied States, speaking at conferences and symposiums, and representing Alberta at meetings and discussions. He welcomed and hosted Alberta delegations to Washington and introduced them to decision-makers and business leaders.
. Although receiving the most votes on the first and second ballots, he didn't achieve over 50% on the second ballot. Under the election rules, the second preference votes were added and Alison Redford
was declared the winner.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1993 to 2007. On December 3, 2007, he was appointed as the Official Representative for Alberta in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and worked in the Canadian Embassy with the official title of Minister-Counsellor of the Province of Alberta to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In March 2011, he resigned his post in order to seek the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...
in its 2011 leadership election
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 was prompted by Ed Stelmach's announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in the 28th general election and therefore would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives...
.
Early life
Mar was born in CalgaryCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
as the grandson of Chinese immigrants who came to what is now Alberta before it became a province. He was named after actor Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Frank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
and astronaut John Glenn
John Glenn
John Herschel Glenn, Jr. is a former United States Marine Corps pilot, astronaut, and United States senator who was the first American to orbit the Earth and the third American in space. Glenn was a Marine Corps fighter pilot before joining NASA's Mercury program as a member of NASA's original...
. The son and grandson of entrepreneurs, Mar spent his early years working in his family's restaurants and other businesses. His parents supported his education, and Mar graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce
Bachelor of Commerce
A Bachelor of Commerce is an undergraduate degree in commerce and related subjects. The degree is also known as the Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, or BCA...
(Finance) at the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
(1984) and Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
(1987).
From 1987 to 1990 Mar worked at the law firm MacKimmie Matthews, Barristers and Solicitors in Calgary and corporate, commercial, and real estate law at Code Hunter, Barristers and Solicitors from 1990 to 1992. He also practiced general law in Calgary.
Political career
At the age of 31, Mar was first elected the Alberta Legislature in the 1993 general electionAlberta general election, 1993
The Alberta general election of 1993 was the twenty-third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 15, 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
. He won the electoral district of Calgary Nose Creek
Calgary Nose Creek
Calgary Nose Creek was a provincial electoral district that encompassed the Northern Central part of Calgary, Alberta.The riding was created during the election of 1993, when the boundaries of Calgary McKnight changed and the riding was renamed....
defeating incumbent Liberal MLA Yolande Gagnon
Yolande Gagnon
Yolande Gagnon is a former provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. She served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1989 to 1993.-Political career:...
. Premier Ralph Klein had campaigned on a debt-reduction platform, and Mar's first years as a Cabinet minister in the Klein government developed and reinforced his fiscal management and commitment to balanced budgeting. Over 14 years, Mar served as minister responsible for the arts, amateur sport, seniors, education, environment, provincial parks, health care, Alberta's centennial celebrations, Alberta's international offices and international relations, and Alberta's relations with other governments within Canada. He was a member of the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund Committee, the Members’ Services Committee and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Managing Growth Pressures.
As Minister of Education, Mar introduced First Things First…Our Children, an initiative that focused on school children of all ages. It made a commitment to ensuring children can read well by grade 3, and focused on high standards for junior and senior high school students, keeping them in school and ensuring they have the skills they need when they graduate. As Minister of Health and Wellness, Mar was instrumental in a number of changes to the system with long-lasting results. He ensured primary care networks, in which physicians lead a team of health care professionals. This interdisciplinary, community-accessible approach became the focus of the health system. He reduced the number of health regions; took steps with electronic health records, negotiated for different funding from the federal government of Canada, and worked with the physicians union to create a controversial model for their pay.
Washington, D.C.
As Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations, Mar led the minimally successful Alberta at the Smithsonian project in 2006 which included Alberta as the first Canadian province ever featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National MallNational Mall
The National Mall is an open-area national park in downtown Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The National Mall is a unit of the National Park Service , and is administered by the National Mall and Memorial Parks unit...
in Washington, D.C. Leading up to the Folklife Festival, Alberta Week in Washington included forums and meetings between Alberta leaders and U.S. decision makers and policy makers in Washington, D.C.
On September 27, 2007, Mar was named Alberta Envoy in Washington, D.C. The Alberta Office in Washington is co-located in the Canadian Embassy and is geared to representing Alberta’s interests to U.S. policymakers and seeking out opportunities for the province.
Over four years, Mar led U.S. senators, congressmen and industry members to tour Alberta's oil sands
Athabasca Oil Sands
The Athabasca oil sands are large deposits of bitumen, or extremely heavy crude oil, located in northeastern Alberta, Canada - roughly centred on the boomtown of Fort McMurray...
, and promoted Alberta energy, agriculture and other products and opportunities in Washington and across the Untied States, speaking at conferences and symposiums, and representing Alberta at meetings and discussions. He welcomed and hosted Alberta delegations to Washington and introduced them to decision-makers and business leaders.
2011 PC leadership election
On March 16, 2011, after resigning his post in Washington, Mar announced he was seeking the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative PartyProgressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 was prompted by Ed Stelmach's announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in the 28th general election and therefore would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives...
. Although receiving the most votes on the first and second ballots, he didn't achieve over 50% on the second ballot. Under the election rules, the second preference votes were added and Alison Redford
Alison Redford
Alison Merrilla Redford Q.C., MLA, is a Canadian politician, and the 14th and current Premier of Alberta, Canada. Upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, in October 2011, she became the first female premier in Alberta...
was declared the winner.