Corky Evans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theBritish Columbia Legislative Assembly forNelson-Creston | |
| In office May 17, 2005 – May 12, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Blair Suffredine |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Mungall |
| In office October 17, 1991 – May 16, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Howard Dirks |
| Succeeded by | Blair Suffredine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1948-01-02)January 2, 1948 (age 78) Berkeley, California, USA |
| Party | British Columbia New Democratic Party |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Corky Evans (born January 2, 1948) is a former Canadian provincial politician inBritish Columbia, Canada. He twice ran for the leadership of theNew Democratic Party of British Columbia, placing second both times. In both cases, the party formed the government of British Columbia and its leader becamePremier of British Columbia. He served in severalcabinet ministries.
While hisbirth certificate recorded his name asConrad St. George Evans,[1] he insists Corky Evans is his correct name.[citation needed]
Born in California the son of a prominent defense attorney and a graduate ofPalo Verde High School inTucson,Arizona, he moved toBritish Columbia in 1969 with his wife and two daughters. Evans describes himself as awar resister.[2] Their son was born soon after. Before his election to theLegislative Assembly of British Columbia, Evans worked as astevedore, logger, tree-planter, heavy-equipment operator, first-aid attendant, and highways surveyor.[3] By the mid-1970s, Evans had settled in theKootenay region of southern British Columbia, and became active in localenvironmental andland use initiatives, particularly in developing theSlocan Valley Forest Management Project, which aimed to controllogging and protectwatersheds.
In 1975, he became aCanadian citizen and he joined theNew Democratic Party. He was elected to theCentral Kootenay Regional District government, serving three consecutive terms as a director and hospital board member.
After one unsuccessful run for the provincial legislature for theBC NDP in the 1986 provincial election, he was electedMember of the Legislative Assembly forNelson-Creston in the1991 provincial election. He served asparliamentary secretary to the Minister of Forests and chair of the legislature's Select Standing Committee on Forests,Mines andPetroleum Resources.
His first run in aBC NDP leadership convention came in 1996, whenGlen 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 the1996 general election on May 28. In June, Evans was named Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;[4] fisheries was spun off into a separate portfolio in February.
Evans retained his position as Minister of Agriculture and Food whenDan Miller served as premier on an interim basis in 1999–2000.
In the leadership convention of February 20, 2000, Evans placed a strong second toUjjal Dosanjh, who had been the 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 acabinet shuffle of November 1, 2000, Evans left his previous portfolios to become Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors.
Evans was defeated in his riding in the2001 provincial election when all but two NDP candidates were defeated.
He was approached to run in the 2003 BC NDPleadership 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 theprovincial election.
On July 3, 2008, Evans announced that he would not stand for re-election in the 2009 provincial election.
| British Columbia provincial government ofUjjal Dosanjh | ||
| Cabinet posts (5) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| Mike Farnworth | Minister of Health November 1, 2000–June 5, 2001 | Sindi Hawkins Colin Hansen[1] |
| Mike Farnworth | Minister Responsible for Seniors November 1, 2000–June 5, 2001 | Ministry Abolished |
| Dennis Streifel | Minister of Fisheries February 29, 2000–November 1, 2000 | Ed Conroy |
| cont'd from Miller Ministry | Minister of Agriculture and Food February 29, 2000–November 1, 2000 | Ed Conroy |
| Ministry Established | Minister Responsible for Rural Development February 29, 2000–November 1, 2000 | Ed Conroy |
| British Columbia provincial government ofDan Miller | ||
| Cabinet post (1) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| cont'd from Clark Ministry | Minister of Agriculture and Food August 25, 1999–February 24, 2000 | cont'd into Dosanjh Ministry |
| British Columbia provincial government ofGlen Clark | ||
| Cabinet posts (3) | ||
| Predecessor | Office | Successor |
| David Zirnhelt | Minister of Agriculture and Food June 17, 1996–August 25, 1999 | cont'd into Miller Ministry |
| David Zirnhelt | Minister of Fisheries June 17, 1996–February 18, 1998 | Dennis Streifel |
| Jackie Pement | Minister of Transportation and Highways February 28, 1996–June 17, 1996 | Lois Boone |