Steve Clark (Canadian politician)
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| Steve Clark (Canadian politician) | |
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| Name | Steve Clark |
| Birth date | 1960s |
| Birth place | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Residence | Brockville, Ontario, Canada |
| Office | Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes |
| Term start | October 6, 2011 |
| Predecessor | Bob Runciman |
| Party | Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario |
| Spouse | Barb Clark |
| Occupation | Politician |
Steve Clark (Canadian politician) Steve Clark is a Canadian politician who has served as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes since 2011. A member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, Clark has held cabinet posts in the governments of Premier Doug Ford and contributed to municipal affairs, infrastructure, and intergovernmental relations. His career spans municipal leadership in Brockville, legislative work at Queen's Park, and public roles involving the Township of Athens and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
Early life and education
Clark was born in Ottawa and raised in the Eastern Ontario region near Brockville, with formative ties to the Rideau Canal and the Thousand Islands. He attended local schools in Leeds County and pursued post-secondary education that included studies focused on public administration and local planning, acquiring knowledge relevant to municipal governance, land use, and heritage conservation near the Saint Lawrence River. Influences included nearby institutions and figures such as the City of Ottawa, the University of Ottawa, the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, and the historical sites of Fort Henry and Fort Wellington, which shaped his interest in regional development and community planning.
Municipal political career
Clark's municipal career began with service on the Brockville City Council, where he worked alongside municipal councillors and mayors addressing local infrastructure, waterfront development, and cultural heritage policy. He served as Mayor of Brockville, collaborating with neighbouring municipalities including Prescott, Gananoque, Smiths Falls, and Perth, and engaged with regional bodies such as the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville and the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus. His municipal roles intersected with agencies and organizations like the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, Parks Canada, the Rideau Canal World Heritage Site administration, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, and the Eastern Ontario Regional Network, addressing transit, tourism, and economic development initiatives.
Provincial political career
Elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario at Queen's Park in the 2011 provincial election, Clark succeeded veteran MPP Bob Runciman and joined caucus colleagues including Tim Hudak, Christine Elliott, and Lisa MacLeod. He participated in legislative committees at Queen's Park and engaged with provincial ministries such as the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Clark worked with federal counterparts including Members of Parliament from Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, agencies such as Infrastructure Canada, and provincial institutions like the Ontario Provincial Police, Metrolinx, and the Ontario Power Generation in matters affecting his riding.
Ministerial roles and initiatives
Appointed to cabinet by Premier Doug Ford, Clark served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, a portfolio that required coordination with municipal associations such as the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, and the Ontario Small Urban Municipalities group. His ministerial initiatives included municipal governance reform, housing supply measures, and property taxation matters that involved stakeholders such as the Ontario Home Builders' Association, the Building Industry and Land Development Association, and conservation authorities including the Raisin Region Conservation Authority and the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority. Clark's tenure intersected with infrastructure programs administered by the Canada Infrastructure Bank, the Ministry of Infrastructure, and regional conservation efforts involving the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.
Political positions and controversies
Clark's positions on land use planning, the Greenbelt, municipal oversight, and housing development placed him at the center of controversies involving environmental groups, municipal leaders, and industry organizations. Debates during his ministerial period involved stakeholders such as the David Suzuki Foundation, Environmental Defence, the Ontario Land Tribunal, and the Ontario Realty Corporation. Controversy emerged in relation to municipal boundary changes, housing pipeline targets promoted by the Ontario Home Builders' Association, and regulatory adjustments that drew responses from opposition figures including Andrea Horwath and Steven Del Duca, as well as commentary from media outlets and civic advocates in Kingston, Ottawa, and Toronto.
Personal life and community involvement
Clark resides in Brockville with his wife, Barb Clark, and their family; he has participated in local service organizations and cultural institutions including the Brockville and District YMCA, the Brockville Arts Centre, the Brockville Museum, and community events tied to the Thousand Islands Boat Museum and the Brockville Ribfest. He has worked with educational institutions and boards such as the Upper Canada District School Board and the St. Lawrence College community in Kingston, supported local economic development corporations, and engaged with veterans' groups associated with the Brockville cenotaph and Remembrance Day ceremonies. His community involvement has connected him with provincial figures including Lieutenant Governors of Ontario and federal figures from Ottawa and Kingston in ceremonial and civic contexts.
Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs Category:People from Brockville Category:Living people