Corky Evans

Corky Evans
MLA for Nelson-Creston
In office
1991–2001
Preceded by Howard Dirks
Succeeded by Blair Suffredine
In office
2005–2009
Preceded by Blair Suffredine
Succeeded by Michelle Mungall
Minister of Transportation and Highways of British Columbia
In office
February 28, 1996 – June 17, 1996
Premier Glen Clark
Preceded by Jackie Pement
Succeeded by Lois Boone
Minister of Fisheries of British Columbia
In office
June 17, 1996 – February 18, 1998
Premier Glen Clark
Preceded by David Zirnhelt
Succeeded by Dennis Streifel
In office
February 29, 2000 – November 1, 2000
Premier Ujjal Dosanjh
Preceded by Dennis Streifel
Succeeded by Ed Conroy
Minister of Agriculture and Food of British Columbia
In office
June 17, 1996 – November 1, 2000
Premier Glen Clark
Preceded by David Zirnhelt
Succeeded by Ed Conroy
Minister Responsible for Rural Development of British Columbia
In office
February 29, 2000 – November 1, 2000
Premier Ujjal Dosanjh
Succeeded by Ed Conroy
Minister of Health of British Columbia
In office
November 1, 2000 – June 5, 2001
Premier Ujjal Dosanjh
Preceded by Michael Farnworth
Succeeded by Sindi Hawkins (Health Planning)
Colin Hansen (Health Services)
Minister Responsible for Seniors of British Columbia
In office
November 1, 2000 – June 5, 2001
Premier Ujjal Dosanjh
Preceded by Michael Farnworth
Personal details
Born January 2, 1948
Berkeley, California
Political party British Columbia New Democratic Party
Occupation Farmer

Corky Evans (born January 2, 1948 in Berkeley, California, U.S.A.) is a former prominent provincial politician in British Columbia, Canada. He twice ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia, placing second both times. In both cases, the party formed the government of BC and its leader became Premier of British Columbia. He served in several cabinet ministries.

Early life and career

While his birth certificate recorded his name as Conrad St. George Evans, he insists Corky Evans is his correct name.

Born in California the son of a prominent defense attorney and a graduate of Palo Verde High School in Tucson, Arizona, he moved to British Columbia in 1969 with his wife and two daughters. Evans describes himself as a war resister.[1] Their son was born soon after. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Evans worked as a stevedore, logger, tree-planter, heavy-equipment operator, first-aid attendant, and highways surveyor.[2] By the mid-1970s, Evans had settled in the Kootenay region of southern British Columbia, and became active in local environmental and land use initiatives, particularly in developing the Slocan Valley Forest Management Project, which aimed to control logging and protect watersheds.

In 1975, he became a Canadian citizen and he joined the New Democratic Party. He was elected to the Central Kootenay Regional District government, serving three consecutive terms as director and hospital board member.

In provincial politics

After one unsuccessful run for the provincial legislature for the BC NDP, he was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nelson-Creston in the 1991 provincial election. He served as parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Forests and chair of the legislature's Select Standing Committee on Forests, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

His first run in a BC NDP leadership convention came in 1996, when Glen Clark was very widely assumed to be a shoo-in for the leadership. Evans' folksy candidacy earned him a second-place finish, and he encouraged his supporters to rally around Clark.

In Clark's cabinet, Evans became Minister of Transportation and Highways from February 1996 to June 1996. Evans and the Clark NDP government were re-elected in the 1996 general election on May 28. In June, Evans was named Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;[3] fisheries was spun off into a separate portfolio in February.

Evans retained his position as Minister of Agriculture and Food when Dan Miller served as premier on an interim basis in 1999–2000.

In the leadership convention of February 20, 2000, Evans placed a strong second to Ujjal Dosanjh, who had been frontrunner throughout the race. Dosanjh returned Fisheries, a high-profile responsibility at the time, to Evans' portfolio. Evans had campaigned for a Ministry of Rural Development, and Dosanjh additionally named him Minister Responsible for Rural Development and empowered him to organize such a ministry.

In a cabinet shuffle of November 1, 2000, Evans left his previous portfolios to become Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors.

Defeat and return

Evans was defeated in his riding in the 2001 provincial election, when all but two NDP candidates were defeated.

He was approached to run in the 2003 BC NDP leadership convention, but declined, citing his commitment to his new job with a local community-service organization.

He returned to politics as the MLA for Nelson-Creston on May 17, 2005 when he won his riding in the provincial election.

On July 3, 2008, Evans announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2009 provincial election.

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to Resisterville". Canada.com. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  2. ↑ http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/36thparl/Evans.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.leg.bc.ca/mla/38thparl/evans.htm
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