CANADA HISTORY - Prime Ministers

Joe Clark

Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, born on June 5, 1939, in High River, Alberta, had a humble beginning rooted in the newspaper business. His father owned the High River Times, and young Joe spent his early years helping out by delivering newspapers and working in various capacities. It seemed for a time that Clark might follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in journalism. However, when he entered the University of Alberta, his path took a decisive turn. Swept up in the political currents of the time, Clark joined the Conservative Party, and his interest in politics quickly deepened.

Clark's enthusiasm and talent for politics became evident during his university years, and he rapidly rose through the ranks of the Progressive Conservative student organizations, eventually becoming the National President of the Progressive Conservative Student Federation. His early involvement in political campaigns was relentless, and he soon built a reputation as a hard worker willing to travel anywhere to support Conservative candidates. Over a span of three years, Clark worked on a variety of campaigns, including Alan Lazerte's provincial campaign in Alberta, John Diefenbaker's federal campaign, and Davie Fulton’s leadership campaign in British Columbia. He also played a key role in Peter Lougheed’s campaign in Alberta’s provincial politics, helping Lougheed become Premier in 1971.

Undeterred by his early political defeats, Clark's first attempt to win office came in 1967 when he ran for a seat in Alberta's provincial election. Despite facing one of the toughest opponents—the sitting Speaker of the House—Clark narrowly lost by just 462 votes. This defeat, however, did not dissuade him. Clark immediately threw himself into supporting Davie Fulton’s leadership bid for the Progressive Conservative Party, though Fulton ultimately lost to Robert Stanfield. Clark’s hard work and talent were noticed, and he became a valuable asset to the party under Stanfield’s leadership. In 1972, Clark ran for the federal Parliament and won a seat in the riding of Rocky Mountain, Alberta, marking the beginning of his career as a federal MP.

Clark quickly gained recognition within the Conservative caucus as a rising star. He was known for his thoughtful, diligent approach and his commitment to Conservative principles. After years of electoral losses to Pierre Trudeau and the Liberals, Robert Stanfield stepped down as leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 1976. Clark entered the leadership race against a strong field of candidates, including Flora MacDonald, Claude Wagner, and Brian Mulroney. Despite being relatively unknown compared to some of his opponents, Clark emerged as the surprise victor, becoming the new leader of the Progressive Conservatives in 1976.

After four years as Leader of the Opposition, Clark’s opportunity to lead the country arrived in 1979 when Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau called an election. Disillusionment with Trudeau's policies had grown across the country, and Clark capitalized on this sentiment. At just 39 years old, he became the youngest Prime Minister in Canadian history after winning a minority government. Initially, Clark’s future seemed bright. Trudeau announced his retirement after the election, and the Liberals appeared rudderless, leaving the Conservatives to pursue their agenda with little opposition. However, this early optimism would soon fade.

Clark’s tenure as Prime Minister was brief but marked by significant challenges. His government attempted to pass a budget that included a controversial gasoline tax, a decision that led to his government being threatened with a vote of non-confidence. Rather than retreat and avoid an election, Clark stood firm, believing he could win a stronger mandate if an election were called. It was a bold gamble that ultimately did not pay off. In a stunning turn of events, the Liberal Party convinced Pierre Trudeau to come out of retirement and lead the party into another election. Clark’s government fell after just nine months, and Trudeau returned to power, sweeping the election and resuming his role as Prime Minister.

Despite his defeat, Clark remained a significant figure in Canadian politics. As leader of the Progressive Conservatives, he continued to work toward rebuilding the party and waited for another opportunity to challenge the Liberals. However, his leadership was questioned after the 1980 election, and by 1983, a leadership review gave him only 66.9% approval. Clark deemed this insufficient and called for a leadership convention, despite the fact that the threshold for maintaining leadership was 65%. This decision paved the way for Brian Mulroney, who won the leadership in 1984 and replaced Clark as head of the party. Clark handled the defeat with grace and continued to play an important role in Mulroney’s government, serving as Minister of External Affairs and later as Minister of Constitutional Affairs.

Clark’s time as Minister of External Affairs was marked by his diplomacy and foreign policy achievements. He played a key role in Canada’s efforts to impose sanctions on apartheid South Africa, which solidified Canada’s position on the global stage as a defender of human rights. As Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Clark was deeply involved in the efforts to negotiate constitutional changes in the late 1980s, including the Meech Lake Accord, which sought to bring Quebec into the constitutional fold.

In 1993, following the Conservative Party's crushing defeat in the federal election that reduced their representation in Parliament to just two seats, Clark announced his retirement from politics. He planned to focus on teaching and consulting. However, by the late 1990s, the Progressive Conservative Party was in disarray, and the Reform Party was gaining strength, threatening to usurp the Conservative base. In 1998, Clark returned to the political arena, winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives once again. He quickly won a by-election in Nova Scotia, returning to Parliament as the leader of a diminished party.

Clark’s return to politics was motivated by his desire to revive the Progressive Conservatives and preserve their identity. He strongly opposed any merger with the Canadian Alliance Party, which had emerged from the Reform Party and represented a more right-wing, socially conservative base. Despite his best efforts, the pressure for unity on the right continued to mount. By 2002, exhausted by the political infighting and intrigue, Clark announced that he would retire at the end of the parliamentary term. Peter MacKay succeeded Clark as leader of the Progressive Conservatives, and it became clear that a merger with the Canadian Alliance was on the horizon. Clark, unwilling to see the party he had devoted his life to subsumed by more right-wing forces, chose to sit as an independent Progressive Conservative for the remainder of his time in Parliament.

On his last day in the House of Commons, Clark expressed his deep concern for the fate of the Progressive Conservative Party, remarking, "I'm very troubled by the disappearance of my party." His words reflected his regret at seeing the once-powerful and proud party transformed by forces focused on more socially conservative issues. Despite this, Clark’s career is remembered for his principled leadership, dedication to public service, and his efforts to keep Canada united.

In his later years, Clark has gained widespread respect as an elder statesman, admired for his integrity and commitment to Canada. He has continued to teach at prestigious institutions and oversee his consulting business, remaining active in public life. His legacy as a Prime Minister may be brief, but his contributions to Canadian politics, both domestically and on the international stage, remain significant. Clark is remembered as a politician who always placed the interests of the country above personal gain, earning him the admiration of Canadians across the political spectrum.