Beyond Politics - Joe Clark

Joe Clark, Canada's 16th prime minister, was one of three children born to Grace and Charles Clark in High River, Alta.
Clark's father was a newspaperman and Joe seriously thought of pursuing journalism as a career but was eventually drawn to the art of politics. While in university, at Dalhousie and U.B.C., Clark became active with the Progressive Conservative party, serving as youth wing president for two terms.
At the age of 28, he ran unsuccessfully as a provincial PC candidate in Alberta, but ended up working in the office of Peter Lougheed, then opposition leader. In 1972, he ran again, federally, in the riding of Rocky Mountain and won. Four years later, when he was 36, he became the youngest leader of a federal party when he defeated Claude Wagner on the fourth ballot to become leader.
In 1979 the Canadian population, disillusioned and tired of Pierre Trudeau, voted in a minority government led by Clark. Despite its brief eight-month tenure, the Clark government introduced a system of spending controls and access to information legislation that were adopted by the returning Liberals.
In 1993 after a distinguished career in cabinet, Clark left political life for teaching but returned to lead the party from 1998 until 2003, when Peter MacKay became the new and ultimately final leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
Joe Clark continues to teach and has his own consulting firm. Catherine Clark -- Joe's daughter -- spoke to him about his life Beyond Politics.

[@TheBCBuddy]

Thank you CPAC and Catherine. Joe Clark is a brilliant, compassionate person, he truly defines what a Canadian is.

[@ronbattiston2468]

I have always been very impressed with Joe Clark. Very intelligent, honest, very well spoken, a great Dad and a great Canadian Prime Minister. Thanks Joe!

[@michaeldoyle6702]

Well done. I had hoped to hear Clark talk about his Catholic faith.

[@stupendous1068]

Happy 80th birthday Joe Clark!!!

[@johnmcdermid2529]

I hope there is a sequel to this interview. It was interesting but barely covered his career. I wanted to hear more. Well done Catherine.

[@gcdcjccc]

Class father, class daughter

[@victorcross5949]

Decent, intelligent and, certainly, a nonvindictive man.

[@Kieran113]

I don't know why I am fascinated by former prime minister Joe Clark and I was not even close to being born when he was prime minister :-)

[@helenzhou3594]

父女俩

[@robocock475]

Where's the baseball bat and bullhorn, and I thought this man was black

[@mcoeif]

He came out as transracial and he reassigned his race as a caucasian. Here he is now.

[@HabsCanada1]

:)