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Manitoba MP calling it a career

By: Mia Rabson

23/06/2009 7:56 AM | Comments: 8

Inky Mark

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Inky Mark (CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES)

OTTAWA -- Conservative MP Inky Mark announced this morning he is retiring from politics. Mark, 61, has been the MP for Dauphin-
Swan River-Marquette since 1997.

In a press release today he said he is stepping down to focus on his family, including his two grandsons and his wife, Lynda.
He will remain as the MP until the next general election.

Mark has been known as a bit of a maverick in politics, choosing not to side with his caucus if he felt the party position was wrong. In 2006 for example, he refused to vote to give Quebec status as a "nation" within Canada.

He was first elected as a Reform Party MP but in 2001 left the caucus with a group of other MPs who opposed the leadership of Stockwell Day. He was the only one not to return to the caucus, and instead joined the Progressive Conservatives.

In the last year he has been virtually silent as an MP. He has not risen to his feet in the House of Commons since May 2008. In the most recent session, which began in January, he didn't speak once.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
 

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8 Commentscomment icon

Inky Mark has done more for his constituents in the last dozen years than any other politician holding that seat. Aside from the monumental work he did with regards to the Chinese Head tax and the recognition of the suffering of interred Ukranians (ie. 3/4 of his riding), he lobbied hard against the gun registry, he fought for recognition of former Dauphinite Col. Billy Barker for his role in serving our country in WWI (?), and is very well respected in the Aboriginal Community. Did I mention that he accomplished all this as a CONSERVATIVE? His "silence" in the house in the last year I'll wager has more to do with the current regime of the PM's Office which muzzles any critics.

Mia Rabson does not do Inky justice. He was elected five consecutive times to represent his riding and is the only MP in Canada who set up 11 constituency offices to look after the people in his riding.

As the granddaughter of a man who was unjustly imprisoned as an "enemy alien" in WWI and had his property confiscated, I am sincerely grateful to Inky for his private members' bill C-331: the Canadian Ukrainian Recognition and Restitution Act, which was enacted into law in 2005. He also brought forward the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act, Bill C333.

Thank you, Inky, for all of your hard work.

I stand by my comment. Maybe it was his backbone that prevented him from standing up to represent his constituents in the House? I hope he can find a good chiropractor with his time off.

You have it wrong Mr. Macool. Inky is one of the few politicians with the backbone and integrity to stand up for his constituents. No doubt it has cost him dearly in terms of party favors but it did get him re-elected.

He really should have jumped ship to the Liberals a few cycles back, and made something of himself. But at least he's getting out before the CONServatives ruin the country entirely.

I doubt he will be missed by anyone. Maybe his constituents will elect someone who actual will represent their interests.

Knowing what Inky has done and said in the past it's more likely that he's been silenced by Harper and his Neo-Con party thugs.

Decent person - WRONG party.

It's too bad he'll be stepping aside to make room for just another blue kool-aid drinker.

Sounds to me that Dear Inky has not been earning his salary or representing his constituents. But he will be happy to take home his padded 12 year Pension that you and I have to work 35 years to get!

Well done Inky.

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