Inky Mark retiring

Posted by Kate (press release)

Manitoba’s longest serving Conservative Member of Parliament Inky Mark has announced his retirement from federal politics after serving the people of Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette for the past twelve years.

Mark explained that with two young grandsons it was time to begin a new chapter in his life focussing on wife Lynda and their family. He decided to announce his retirement now to give local Conservatives time to select a new candidate in preparation for the next general election.

“It has been an honour to serve the people of Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette. I consider myself privileged to be their public servant.” said Mark.

Over the years Mark has been described as outspoken, anti-establishment, never concerned with what party officials think of him, and always putting the people at home before the Party in Ottawa. He has sat in Parliament representing the Reform Party of Canada, the Canadian Alliance, Independent Conservative, the P.C.D.R. Coalition, the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada and the Conservative Party of Canada.

Voters rewarded Mark’s loyalty by overwhelmingly electing him five consecutive times. He is the only M.P. in this large rural riding’s history to win five consecutive elections: 1997 with the Reform Party of Canada, then again in 2000, 2004, with the Canadian Alliance and in 2006 and 2008 with the Conservative Party of Canada.

Mark is the only M.P. in Canada to establish 11 constituency offices providing people with personal service within a one-half hour drive of their home; to initiate specially designed medals honouring his riding’s Veterans, Municipal Officials and Firefighters; and providing every household with a Commemorative booklet annually in time for Remembrance Day that lists the names of the riding’s fallen.

Other successes include having the riding name changed to Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette, successfully having Lt. Col. William Barker, VC declared a national hero, commissioned statues to honour the victims of the Ukrainian Internment of 1914-1920, Lt. Col. William Barker VC and Dr. Ed Hudson, C.M. of Hamiota.