B.C. tourism minister resigns due to 'pressing and urgent personal matters'
British Columbia's tourism minister has resigned from cabinet and gone on medical leave effective immediately, the premier announced Wednesday.
In a brief statement, John Horgan said Minister of Tourism, Art, Culture and Sport Melanie Mark "advised me of her decision to resign her cabinet portfolio and go on medical leave to focus on pressing and urgent personal matters."
Mark will continue to represent the riding of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant in the legislature.
Horgan said he has asked Lisa Beare to assume the tourism portfolio in addition to her role as minister of citizens’ services.
"While I regret that she [Mark] will not be at the cabinet table, I respect her decision and her commitment to her constituents," the premier said.
Mark was the first Indigenous woman to become an MLA in B.C. after she was elected in the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding in 2016.
Before working as B.C.'s Minister of Tourism, she held the position of Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.
During that time, she helped develop a policy that removed all fees for people accessing Adult Basic Education.
She also helped launch the world's first Indigenous Law Program at the University of Victoria in 2018. The inaugural class of that program graduated in June of this year.
In her biography on the B.C. Legislative Assembly website, Mark is quoted saying that education is "the great equalizer" and that she often references the saying, "a rising tide lifts all canoes."
"I value my role and remain committed to the constituents of Vancouver-Mount Pleasant,” Mark said on Twitter just before noon Wednesday.
"I thank my family and colleagues for their support at this time."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.