Inky Mark
Encyclopedia
Inky Mark (born November 17, 1947) is a Canadian
politician and a former member of the Canadian House of Commons
, representing the Manitoba
riding of Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette
. Mark is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
.
, China
, and moved to the Canadian province of Manitoba
as a child. Mark's father and grandfather had emigrated from China to Canada some time previously, but were unable to bring their families with them as a result of provisions in the Chinese Immigration Act (more commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act) of 1923. Mark accompanied his mother when she fled China in 1953, and subsequently settled with his family in the Manitoba community of Gilbert Plains
.
from Brandon University
and a Bachelor of Education
degree from the University of Manitoba
. Before entering political life, he worked as a high school teacher and small businessman. Mark also has a certificate in broadcasting and started a Masters in Education program. He served on the board of the Dauphin First United Church.
town council in 1991, and became the town's mayor
in 1994. He was first elected to the House of Commons in the federal election of 1997, running as a candidate of the Reform Party
in the riding of Dauphin—Swan River. He received 12668 votes, against 7716 for his nearest competitor, Progressive Conservative
Lorne Boguski. The incumbent, Liberal
Marlene Cowling
, finished fourth with 7408 votes. From 1997 to 2000, Mark was one of only three Chinese-Canadian MPs in the House of Commons; the other two were Raymond Chan
and Sophia Leung
.
The Reform Party dissolved itself in 2000 in favour of the Canadian Alliance
, and Mark ran as a candidate of the new party in the federal election which followed
. He was easily re-elected, defeating his nearest competitor, Liberal Jane Dawson, by a margin of 15855 votes to 7091.
Mark's career followed an unusual trajectory between 2001 and 2004. As the Alliance's parliamentary critic for Immigration, Mark was responsible for expressing his party's position on the Liberal government's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
, which he did during the immigration controversy involving the Sklarzyk family who, as a result of an administrative error, was deported from Canada to Poland in May 2001. He also contributed to the parliamentary committee's work in drafting the final version of the bill, and was generally regarded by MPs from all parties as having made several constructive criticisms to the legislation.
On June 13, 2001, however, Mark's position on the bill was undercut by Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day
, who delivered a speech in parliament supporting tighter restrictions against refugee claimants and reduced opportunities for rejected claimants to appeal to the Refugee Board. Day's comments diverged from Mark's stated position on several particulars, and his speech was regarded as very surprising by many other MPs in the House of Commons. (Liberal MP Steve Mahoney
referred to Day's comments as "treachery" towards Mark, for which he was ruled out of order by the Speaker.)
Mark had not previously been among the Canadian Alliance MPs agitating for Day's removal as leader, but following Day's speech he joined a group of party dissidents led by Chuck Strahl
and Deborah Grey
. On September 12, 2001, Mark left the Canadian Alliance caucus to sit as a member of the Democratic Representative Caucus
, in alliance with the Progressive Conservative Party
.
The DRC came to an end on April 10, 2002, when Stephen Harper
replaced Day as Canadian Alliance leader. Every other member of the DRC requested to be re-admitted to the Alliance; Mark did not join them, but instead decided to sit as an Independent Conservative, with the intention of joining the Progressive Conservative Party at their annual party convention later in the year. Mark formally joined the Progressive Conservatives on August 27, 2002.
Late in 2003, the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party formally merged to create the new Conservative Party of Canada
. Mark supported the merger, and formally joined the new party's caucus on February 2, 2004. The merger placed Mark back among the Canadian Alliance MPs with whom he had parted company in 2002.
Mark was easily re-elected in the Canadian federal election of 2004
, receiving nearly three times as many votes as his nearest challenger, New Democrat Walter Kolisnyk
. During the Parliamentary crisis that followed, Mark claimed that he was offered an ambassadorship by an unnamed cabinet minister, in exchange for vacating his seat in the House of Commons prior to the pivotal budget vote. The Liberals denied the allegation.
Ideologically, Mark may be defined as a fiscal conservative with some leanings toward social conservatism (although he has not emphasized the latter in his speeches or campaigns), holding progressive views on issues involving cultural change within Canada as evidenced by the 2001 bureaucratic bumble which lead to the controversial deportation of the Sklarzyk family.
to Eric Irwin.
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 and a former member of the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
, representing the Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
riding of Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette
Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette
Dauphin—Swan River—Marquette is a federal electoral district in Manitoba, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1904...
. Mark is a member of the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
.
Early life
Mark was born in TaishanTaishan
Taishan is a coastal county-level city in Guangdong Province, China. The city is part of the Greater Taishan Region....
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and moved to the Canadian province of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
as a child. Mark's father and grandfather had emigrated from China to Canada some time previously, but were unable to bring their families with them as a result of provisions in the Chinese Immigration Act (more commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act) of 1923. Mark accompanied his mother when she fled China in 1953, and subsequently settled with his family in the Manitoba community of Gilbert Plains
Gilbert Plains, Manitoba
Gilbert Plains is a town in Manitoba, Canada. The town lies on Highway 5 and the CN railway line, between Dauphin and Grandview, or about 250 miles NW of Winnipeg. The current mayor of Gilbert Plains is Lyle Smith. Gilbert Plains railway station receives Via Rail service.-History:Incorporated in...
.
Education
Mark has a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Brandon University
Brandon University
Brandon University is a Canadian university located in the city of Brandon, Manitoba, with an enrolment of 3383 full-time and part-time students. The current location was founded on July 13, 1899, as Brandon College as a Baptist institution. It was chartered as a university by then President Dr....
and a Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Education
A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...
degree from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
. Before entering political life, he worked as a high school teacher and small businessman. Mark also has a certificate in broadcasting and started a Masters in Education program. He served on the board of the Dauphin First United Church.
Political career
Mark's political career began at the municipal level. He was elected to the DauphinDauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin is a small city in Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 7,906 as of 2006. The nearby lake was given the name "Dauphin" by the explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye in 1741 in honour of the heir to the French throne...
town council in 1991, and became the town's mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 1994. He was first elected to the House of Commons in the federal election of 1997, running as a candidate of the Reform Party
Reform Party of Canada
The Reform Party of Canada was a Canadian federal political party that existed from 1987 to 2000. It was originally founded as a Western Canada-based protest party, but attempted to expand eastward in the 1990s. It viewed itself as a populist party....
in the riding of Dauphin—Swan River. He received 12668 votes, against 7716 for his nearest competitor, Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Lorne Boguski. The incumbent, Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
Marlene Cowling
Marlene Cowling
Marlene Cowling was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 1997 in the Dauphin—Swan River electoral district. By career, she is a farmer....
, finished fourth with 7408 votes. From 1997 to 2000, Mark was one of only three Chinese-Canadian MPs in the House of Commons; the other two were Raymond Chan
Raymond Chan
Raymond Chan, PC , is the first Chinese Canadian to be appointed to the Cabinet of Canada. A member of the Liberal Party of Canada, Chan was elected to Parliament in the 1993 federal election, defeating then Defence Minister Tom Siddon in the riding of Richmond, British Columbia...
and Sophia Leung
Sophia Leung
Sophia Ming Ren Leung, CM is a Canadian politician.Born in Wuxi, China, she was a social worker before being elected to the Canadian House of Commons in 1997 for the riding of Vancouver-Kingsway in British Columbia. A Liberal, she was re-elected in 2000. From 2000 to 2003, she was Parliamentary...
.
The Reform Party dissolved itself in 2000 in favour of the Canadian Alliance
Canadian Alliance
The Canadian Alliance , formally the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance , was a Canadian conservative political party that existed from 2000 to 2003. The party was the successor to the Reform Party of Canada and inherited its position as the Official Opposition in the House of Commons and held...
, and Mark ran as a candidate of the new party in the federal election which followed
Canadian federal election, 2000
The 2000 Canadian federal election was held on November 27, 2000, to elect 301 Members of Parliament of the Canadian House of Commons of the 37th Parliament of Canada....
. He was easily re-elected, defeating his nearest competitor, Liberal Jane Dawson, by a margin of 15855 votes to 7091.
Mark's career followed an unusual trajectory between 2001 and 2004. As the Alliance's parliamentary critic for Immigration, Mark was responsible for expressing his party's position on the Liberal government's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act is an Act of the Parliament of Canada, passed in 2001 as Bill C-11, which replaced the Immigration Act of 1976 as the primary federal legislation regulating Immigration to Canada....
, which he did during the immigration controversy involving the Sklarzyk family who, as a result of an administrative error, was deported from Canada to Poland in May 2001. He also contributed to the parliamentary committee's work in drafting the final version of the bill, and was generally regarded by MPs from all parties as having made several constructive criticisms to the legislation.
On June 13, 2001, however, Mark's position on the bill was undercut by Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day
Stockwell Day
Stockwell Burt Day, Jr., PC, MP is a former Canadian politician, and a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. He is a former cabinet minister in Alberta, and a former leader of the Canadian Alliance. Day was MP for the riding of Okanagan—Coquihalla in British Columbia and the president of...
, who delivered a speech in parliament supporting tighter restrictions against refugee claimants and reduced opportunities for rejected claimants to appeal to the Refugee Board. Day's comments diverged from Mark's stated position on several particulars, and his speech was regarded as very surprising by many other MPs in the House of Commons. (Liberal MP Steve Mahoney
Steve Mahoney
Steven W. Mahoney, PC is a Canadian politician. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1995, and a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1997 to 2004. In the latter capacity, he served as a cabinet minister in the government of Jean Chrétien...
referred to Day's comments as "treachery" towards Mark, for which he was ruled out of order by the Speaker.)
Mark had not previously been among the Canadian Alliance MPs agitating for Day's removal as leader, but following Day's speech he joined a group of party dissidents led by Chuck Strahl
Chuck Strahl
Charles Strahl, PC, MP was a politician in British Columbia, Canada. He was a Member of Parliament in the governing Conservative Party of Canada.-Before politics:...
and Deborah Grey
Deborah Grey
Deborah Cleland Grey, OC, sometimes called Deb Grey is a former Canadian Member of Parliament from Alberta for the Reform Party of Canada, Canadian Alliance and Conservative Party of Canada....
. On September 12, 2001, Mark left the Canadian Alliance caucus to sit as a member of the Democratic Representative Caucus
Democratic Representative Caucus
The Democratic Representative Caucus was a group of Canadian Members of Parliament who left the Canadian Alliance in 2001 in protest against the leadership of Stockwell Day...
, in alliance with the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
.
The DRC came to an end on April 10, 2002, when Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
replaced Day as Canadian Alliance leader. Every other member of the DRC requested to be re-admitted to the Alliance; Mark did not join them, but instead decided to sit as an Independent Conservative, with the intention of joining the Progressive Conservative Party at their annual party convention later in the year. Mark formally joined the Progressive Conservatives on August 27, 2002.
Late in 2003, the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party formally merged to create the new Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. Mark supported the merger, and formally joined the new party's caucus on February 2, 2004. The merger placed Mark back among the Canadian Alliance MPs with whom he had parted company in 2002.
Mark was easily re-elected in the Canadian federal election of 2004
Canadian federal election, 2004
The Canadian federal election, 2004 , was held on June 28, 2004 to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 38th Parliament of Canada. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Paul Martin lost its majority, but was able to form a minority government after the elections...
, receiving nearly three times as many votes as his nearest challenger, New Democrat Walter Kolisnyk
Walter Kolisnyk
Walter Kolisnyk is a farmer and politician in Manitoba, Canada.He operates a grain and cattle farm in Minitonas, a rural municipality. He served as leader of the Swan Valley Credit Union Board for five years, and was President of the National Farmers Union Local 520. In 2004, he was appointed...
. During the Parliamentary crisis that followed, Mark claimed that he was offered an ambassadorship by an unnamed cabinet minister, in exchange for vacating his seat in the House of Commons prior to the pivotal budget vote. The Liberals denied the allegation.
Ideologically, Mark may be defined as a fiscal conservative with some leanings toward social conservatism (although he has not emphasized the latter in his speeches or campaigns), holding progressive views on issues involving cultural change within Canada as evidenced by the 2001 bureaucratic bumble which lead to the controversial deportation of the Sklarzyk family.
Return to municipal politics
Mark announced in June 2009 that he would not seek re-election in the next federal election, which was held on May 2, 2011. He subsequently announced on August 16, 2010 that he would step down as an MP on September 15 to campaign for another term as mayor of Dauphin. However, he lost narrowlyManitoba municipal elections, 2010
The Canadian province of Manitoba held municipal elections on October 27, 2010. Election day was on July 23, 2010 for several beach resorts including Winnipeg Beach, Dunnottar and Victoria Beach. Mayors, councillors, and school board trustees were elected....
to Eric Irwin.