Glen Clark
Glen David Clark (born 1957) succeeded Michael Harcourt in 1996 to become leader of British Columbia's NDP and BC's 31st Premier. Clark was first elected to the B.C. legislature in 1986.
Clark served as finance minister under NDP Premier Michael Harcourt and earned a reputation for his often hardline, socialist-style rhetoric. When Harcourt resigned amid scandal in 1995, Clark was elected by the NDP to replace him.
Clark called an election in 1996 to which his party narrowly won a majority of seats, despite receiving only a minority of the popular vote.
During his priemiership, Clark initiated and backed the B.C. fast ferries initiative which was designed to upgrade the existing BC Ferries fleet as well as jump start a shipbuilding industry in Vancouver. Though the ferries were eventually produced, the project proved a dismal failure with massive cost overruns, compromises on ship performance, and long delays. Critics blasted the project as an unnecessary "gift" for his union backers, long a traditional source of NDP political support. Clark's refusal to cancel the program became a focus of public criticism and severely damaged the NDP's popularity.
Clark resigned on August 25, 1999 due to 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 acquitted of all charges in August 2002 with the judge ruling that "there is nothing in his conduct that crosses the line from an act of folly to behaviour calling for criminal sanctions."
Clark was succeeded as Premier of B.C. by Deputy Premier Dan Miller, on an acting basis, until a leadership convention selected Ujjal Dosanjh.
Clark has since found employment with the high-profile businessman Jimmy Pattison.
