Clif Evans
Encyclopedia
Clif Evans is a politician in Manitoba
, Canada
. He was a member of the provincial legislature from 1990 to 1999,
and played a significant role in bringing to light a vote-splitting scandal involving the Independent Native Voice
organization and some members of the Progressive Conservative Party
.
Before entering political life, Evans worked for ten years in the hotel business and twelve years in the oil and chemical plant industry. He was elected Mayor
of Riverton
, Manitoba in October 1989, and held the position until his election to the provincial legislature the following year.
Evans was elected as a New Democrat
in the provincial election of 1990
, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Ed Trachuk in the mid-northern riding of Interlake by about 400 votes. The election was won by the Progressive Conservatives, and Evans sat in the Official Opposition.
The Progressive Conservatives again nominated Trachuk against Evans for the provincial election of 1995
, but of greater long-term significance was the candidancy of Darryl Sutherland, from Independent Native Voice
(a group which purported to represent aboriginal interests in the region). A government inquiry would subsequently establish that Sutherland's candidacy had been encouraged, financed and organized by leading figures in the riding's Progressive Conservative network, in the hopes that Sutherland would take enough votes away from the NDP to allow a PC victory (the aboriginal communities of northern Manitoba have generally supported the NDP, at least since the early 1970s).
As it happened, this attempted vote-splitting was unsuccessful and Evans was re-elected by a greater margin than before. Sutherland's 289 votes were not enough to make a difference in the outcome, and most of the riding's aboriginal voters supported Evans (who had, in fact, been publicly endorsed by the chiefs of the eight Interlake First Nations).
Evans had heard rumours about Sutherland's candidacy during the campaign (in fact, some suspicions were raised in the Winnipeg Free Press
shortly before election day). He did not raise the issue himself during the campaign, although former NDP cabinet minister Bill Uruski
and other figures within the party conducted some investigations on the matter.
In early 1998, Evans and fellow NDP MLA Tim Sale
received information that leading PC organizer Taras Sokolyk
had played a role in encouraging INV candidates in the previous election. According to Doug Smith's As Many Liars (a literary overview of the scandal), Evans was able to confirm this information through a discussion with Allan Aitken, a PC organizer in the region (who had previously been among Evans's personal friends). Under pressure from the NDP caucus and some elements of the media, Premier
Gary Filmon
called a public inquiry into the scandal, which found that Sutherland's candidacy had been encouraged by Progressive Conservative interests with the intention of causing vote-splitting.
Ironically, Evans's own career was damaged by the scandal inquiry. The PCs raised concerns about connections between Evans and Sale and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, which had publicized the story in early 1998. The government also attempted to show inconsistencies in Evans's statements to the legislature on the subject (as to whether or not he believed there were "two Tory campaigns" in the riding). These allegations were not particularly serious, but the attacks on his credibility seem to have played a role in Evans's decision not to seek re-election in 1999. He has not re-entered public life since this time.
Evans supported Lorne Nystrom
's bid to lead the federal New Democratic Party
in 1995.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He was a member of the provincial legislature from 1990 to 1999,
and played a significant role in bringing to light a vote-splitting scandal involving the Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice, also known as Native Voice, was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1995 to address aboriginal issues, and ran three candidates in the 1995 provincial election. Native Voice was not registered with Elections Manitoba, and its candidates...
organization and some members of the Progressive Conservative Party
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
.
Before entering political life, Evans worked for ten years in the hotel business and twelve years in the oil and chemical plant industry. He was elected Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Riverton
Riverton, Manitoba
Riverton is a village in the province of Manitoba in Canada located approximately 110 kilometres north of Winnipeg. It is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Bifrost. The CPR's train conductor is reputed to have named the town....
, Manitoba in October 1989, and held the position until his election to the provincial legislature the following year.
Evans was elected as a New Democrat
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
in the provincial election of 1990
Manitoba general election, 1990
The Manitoba general election of September 11, 1990 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which took 30 out of 57 seats...
, defeating Progressive Conservative candidate Ed Trachuk in the mid-northern riding of Interlake by about 400 votes. The election was won by the Progressive Conservatives, and Evans sat in the Official Opposition.
The Progressive Conservatives again nominated Trachuk against Evans for the provincial election of 1995
Manitoba general election, 1995
The Manitoba general election of April 25,1995 was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Manitoba, Canada. It was won by the Progressive Conservative Party, which won 31 seats out of 57...
, but of greater long-term significance was the candidancy of Darryl Sutherland, from Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice
Independent Native Voice, also known as Native Voice, was a short-lived political party in Manitoba, Canada. It was created in 1995 to address aboriginal issues, and ran three candidates in the 1995 provincial election. Native Voice was not registered with Elections Manitoba, and its candidates...
(a group which purported to represent aboriginal interests in the region). A government inquiry would subsequently establish that Sutherland's candidacy had been encouraged, financed and organized by leading figures in the riding's Progressive Conservative network, in the hopes that Sutherland would take enough votes away from the NDP to allow a PC victory (the aboriginal communities of northern Manitoba have generally supported the NDP, at least since the early 1970s).
As it happened, this attempted vote-splitting was unsuccessful and Evans was re-elected by a greater margin than before. Sutherland's 289 votes were not enough to make a difference in the outcome, and most of the riding's aboriginal voters supported Evans (who had, in fact, been publicly endorsed by the chiefs of the eight Interlake First Nations).
Evans had heard rumours about Sutherland's candidacy during the campaign (in fact, some suspicions were raised in the Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
shortly before election day). He did not raise the issue himself during the campaign, although former NDP cabinet minister Bill Uruski
Bill Uruski
Bill Uruski is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1969 to 1990, and was a cabinet minister in the New Democratic Party governments of Edward Schreyer and Howard Pawley.Uruski did not attend a university; however, he was a Royal Canadian...
and other figures within the party conducted some investigations on the matter.
In early 1998, Evans and fellow NDP MLA Tim Sale
Tim Sale (politician)
Edward Timothy Sale was a Manitoba politician, and a former member of the Premier Gary Doer's cabinet.Sale was born in Goderich, Ontario in 1942...
received information that leading PC organizer Taras Sokolyk
Taras Sokolyk
Taras Sokolyk is a former political organizer and currently the Chief Executive Officer of CanadInns in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He played a prominent role in the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba's 1995 election campaign, in which the party won a majority government.Once a political organizer...
had played a role in encouraging INV candidates in the previous election. According to Doug Smith's As Many Liars (a literary overview of the scandal), Evans was able to confirm this information through a discussion with Allan Aitken, a PC organizer in the region (who had previously been among Evans's personal friends). Under pressure from the NDP caucus and some elements of the media, Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
called a public inquiry into the scandal, which found that Sutherland's candidacy had been encouraged by Progressive Conservative interests with the intention of causing vote-splitting.
Ironically, Evans's own career was damaged by the scandal inquiry. The PCs raised concerns about connections between Evans and Sale and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, which had publicized the story in early 1998. The government also attempted to show inconsistencies in Evans's statements to the legislature on the subject (as to whether or not he believed there were "two Tory campaigns" in the riding). These allegations were not particularly serious, but the attacks on his credibility seem to have played a role in Evans's decision not to seek re-election in 1999. He has not re-entered public life since this time.
Evans supported Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Nystrom
Lorne Edmund Nystrom, PC a Canadian politician, was a member of the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1993 when he lost his reelection bid. He returned to parliament in 1997 and served until 2004...
's bid to lead the federal New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in 1995.