“But soon or late the man who wins / Is the one who thinks he can.”
The poet Walter D. Wintle obviously did not have Rob Clarke in mind when he penned those words more than a century ago.
Yet Wintle’s theory may help explain Clarke’s meteoric rise from police officer to giant-slaying politician.
Clarke had many skeptics when he ran for MP of the vast northern Saskatchewan riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River in a March 2008 by-election.
A Conservative, Clarke was viewed as the underdog to star Liberal candidate Joan Beatty, the esteemed former Saskatchewan cabinet minister.
At times it might have seemed as though Clarke was the only one who believed he could capture the seat, but when victory came, it was by an impressive 16-point margin.
Clarke survived re-election several months later when he trounced another big-name Liberal, David Orchard, in the October 2008 general election.
Voters elected Clarke a third time in May 2011. This time he bested Lawrence Joseph of the NDP, a former chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.
In Ottawa, Clarke, now 48, has made his mark.
He is the founding member and chairman of the Conservative Aboriginal Caucus and serves on the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Last year, Clarke succeeded in passing his signature private member’s bill. Bill C-428 allows the government to replace portions of the Indian Act that Clarke views as outdated.
Creighton and Denare Beach voters approve of Clarke’s performance. In the 2011 election, Clarke took 53 per cent of the vote in Creighton and 63 per cent in Denare Beach.
The Reminder interviewed Clarke this week.
REMINDER: What is your reaction to Creighton falling out of contention for nuclear waste storage? It was a controversial matter, but many saw big economic benefits.
CLARKE: I am disappointed that the economic benefits to Creighton from this project will not materialize, but in the end I am sure that everyone shares my view that the decision had to be based on sound science and what is best for the long-term safety of the community.
REMINDER: Did you hear about nuclear waste storage often from your constituents? Were they generally for or against?
CLARKE: I have received a number of letters both for and against the project. The majority of letters opposing the project I received were from people who live outside of Creighton, outside of my riding and in many cases outside of Saskatchewan.
REMINDER: The Town of Creighton argues that SaskPower should charge Creightonites the same, much lower electricity rates that Flin Flonners pay to Manitoba Hydro. The electricity comes from the same source and Creighton sees the price differential as a competitive disadvantage. Will you lobby SaskPower to fulfill Creighton’s request?
CLARKE: I understand how frustrating this issue is, but I do also realize that the cost per kilowatt charged to SaskPower customers includes new money to upgrade the entire province’s power grid system and to improve the effectiveness of hydro generation.
Differences in prices vary between provinces, but I am happy to raise this issue on behalf of Creighton. Ultimately the decision is between the provincial power authorities and the provincial governments.
REMINDER: There has long been talk about the challenges the provincial border creates for Creighton and Flin Flon. The border is seen as a hindrance to cross-border cooperation on projects and initiatives that would benefit all area residents. Is this a concern you hear about? What should be done?
CLARKE: Interprovincial trade is worth roughly $300 billion a year to the Canadian economy, and some analysts estimate that differing provincial regulations can cost manufacturers, farmers and consumers up to an additional seven per cent on the cost of goods made elsewhere in Canada.
That is why my colleague, Industry Minister James Moore, is leading a review of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT).
This must be a process that includes the province[s] as well. Already BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan have joined together to create the New West Partnership Trade Agreement, creating Canada’s largest barrier-free interprovincial market. I would encourage Manitoba to join the partnership.
REMINDER: Liberal MP Scott Simms unsuccessfully argued that you violated ethics rules by supporting the Fair Elections Act. He claimed the act would make an app developed by a company with which you are involved a more attractive product for political campaigns. What is the nature of your involvement with this company? Further, what did you make of Simms’ allegation?
CLARKE: I was deeply disappointed that Mr. Simms used the office of the Integrity Commissioner to try and score cheap political points over a non-issue.
I am an investor in a small business and as the Commissioner reported, I did nothing wrong. As an experienced politician, Mr. Simms was aware of the ethics rules and should have known that.
The fact that he leaked confidential documents provided to him by the Commissioner to the media proves that this was simply an attempt to attack my good name and shows the lack of integrity that he has.
REMINDER: Following a recent Supreme Court ruling, Parliament has a year to craft a law around physician-assisted suicide. Should physician-assisted suicide be allowed in Canada?
CLARKE: I understand that this is a very difficult decision for many people, and I am looking forward to seeing the results of the government’s consultation process as they begin to work on drafting a new Act.
The decision by the Supreme Court of Canada has put this issue into a legal limbo, but it is too important to rush to pass any new Act.
I know personally I am planning to consult extensively with my constituents to hear their views so that I can best represent their wishes when this is debated next in Parliament.
REMINDER: According to CBC, the federal government’s monthly deficit expanded to $3.2 billion last October, about $700 million higher than the same month in 2013. How can a government calling itself Conservative let this stand?
CLARKE: Economic factors drive month to month changes in the government’s finances.
Last fall, the falling price of oil reduced the revenue the government receives in the short term, but the benefits of lower energy prices means that there is more economic activity in other parts of the Canadian economy.
The Conservative government is committed to returning to surplus in this year’s budget. This spring, Finance Minister Joe Oliver will introduce a balanced budget without raising taxes on hard-working families.
We will continue our record of keeping taxes low to encourage more economic activity and reduce the tax burden on Canadian families and seniors.
The opposition parties have vowed to reverse these tax-relief measures and raise taxes on families and seniors. As a Conservative government, we believe that Canadians should be able to keep more of their hard-earned money while maintaining a balanced budget.
REMINDER: How do you respond to critics who fear your government’s new anti-terrorism bill amounts to a Big Brotheresque overreach?
CLARKE: Bill C-51 is designed to give our law enforcement and security agencies the tools they need to keep Canadians safe as we deal with new threats.
We are dealing with a new kind of terrorist group that uses social media to lure people to fight for them at home and abroad.
The new tools in Bill C-51 will help prevent misguided individuals from joining terrorist groups such as ISIS on the battlefield by giving the authority to the government to put people on the no-fly list if we believe they intend to leave the country to join a terrorist organization.
It will also assist intelligence and public safety agencies to prevent the promotion of terrorist organizations online by giving the government the ability to have Internet postings or social media efforts to recruit or promote terrorism acts removed.
We are deeply committed to protecting Canadians while making sure that our rights are protected as well. That’s is why we have included civilian and judicial oversight within the new powers proposed under Bill C-51.
(The second part of this interview will appear Monday).
