Mary Polak

Canadian politician

Mary Polak

MLA

Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Langley
In office
May 17, 2005 – September 21, 2020
Preceded by| Lynn Stephens
Succeeded by| Andrew Mercier
Minister of Health of British Columbia
In office
June 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Premier| Christy Clark
Preceded by| Terry Lake
Succeeded by| Adrian Dix
Minister of Environment of British Columbia
In office
June 10, 2013 – June 12, 2017
Premier| Christy Clark
Preceded by| Terry Lake
Succeeded by| Jordan Sturdy
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of British Columbia
In office
September 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Premier| Christy Clark
Preceded by| Blair Lekstrom
Succeeded by| Todd Stone
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation of British Columbia
In office
March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Premier| Christy Clark
Preceded by| Barry Penner
Succeeded by| Ida Chong
Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care of British Columbia
In office
June 10, 2009 – March 14, 2011
Premier| Gordon Campbell
Preceded by| Tom Christensen
Succeeded by| Mary McNeil
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport of British Columbia
In office
June 23, 2008 – June 10, 2009
Premier| Gordon Campbell
Succeeded by| Ida Chong
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health of British Columbia
In office
December 19, 2006 – June 23, 2008
Premier| Gordon Campbell
Personal details
Born| 1967 or 1968 (age 56–57)[1]
Political party| BC Liberal
Occupation| Politician

Mary Ruth Polak (born 1967 or 1968) is a Canadian politician, who served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia (MLA) for the riding of Langley from 2005 until her defeat in the 2020 provincial election. She was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in 2017, having represented the constituents of Langley since 2005 and was appointed Minister of Health on June 12, 2017 by Premier Christy Clark. Prior to her new cabinet post, she served as the Minister of the Environment, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Minister of Children and Family Development and Minister Responsible for Child Care, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health. Before being elected to the legislative assembly, Polak served as a trustee and former chair of the Surrey School Board in Surrey, British Columbia. She currently resides in Langley, British Columbia.

## Surrey School trustee

[edit]

### Same-sex-parents book controversy

[edit]

Polak was recruited to run as a member of the Surrey Electors Team by school trustee Heather Stilwell. As a Trustee on the Surrey School Board, she voted down a request, along with the majority of the school board, to add three specific books dealing with same sex families as recommended learning resources for the kindergarten and grade one curriculum. These books were requested by a kindergarten teacher to reflect the realities of today's families and to teach his pupils about diversity and tolerance. The Government of British Columbia also declined to approve the same books.

A legal battle to overturn the decision to ban the three books went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, where the school board's decision was returned to the board.[2] The judgment cited the need for families headed by same-sex couples to be respected. Chief Justice Beverly McLachlin dismissed the school board's argument that children would be confused or misled by classroom information about same-sex parents.[3] The Surrey School Board then approved a different set of books depicting same sex families. In doing so, Surrey became the first school district in British Columbia to approve books depicting same sex families as recommended learning resources for primary grades, including kindergarten.

### Results publishing

[edit]

As school board chair, Polak made Surrey the first school district in British Columbia to publish school-by-school results for both elementary and secondary schools. These results were based on controversial standardized tests, opposed by a majority of public school teachers. They were published in Vancouver newspapers as "rankings" by the Fraser Institute. Polak also served as chair of the Council of British Columbia School Districts and on the board of directors of the British Columbia School Trustees Association.

## Provincial politics

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She tried unsuccessfully to gain a seat in the Legislative Assembly as a candidate for the BC Liberal Party, but lost the 2004 Surrey-Panorama Ridge by-election to Jagrup Brar, the New Democratic Party of British Columbia candidate. This was a substantial defeat for the governing Liberals.

Polak won a seat in the 2005 provincial election in the riding of Langley by over 52%, 18 points ahead of her next closest competitor. As an MLA for Langley she served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health and later as the Minister of Healthy Living and Sport.

Polak ran successfully again in the 2009 Provincial election, earning more than 56% at the polls and increased her margin over her nearest opponent to more than 20 points.[4]

In the 2013 British Columbia general election, Mary Polak sought reelection in Langley for a third term. She won her riding easily with nearly 52% of the popular vote nearly doubling the vote total of Andrew Mercier, the NDP candidate. She also defeated John Cummins, the leader of the British Columbia Conservative Party who received less than 12% of the popular vote.[5] A week before Election Day, Polak's campaign manager, Todd Hauptman, resigned, citing homophobia among the Langley electorate as his reason for stepping down.[6] Polak suggested that Hauptman had not fully disclosed his reasons for resigning.[7] She said that Hauptman quit after being alleged to have leaked information about the Liberal Party's strategy to the New Democratic Party (NDP);[8] Polak said that the New Democratic Party candidate was a friend of Hauptman's.[9] Hauptman, a gay man, issued a press release about his resignation.[10] Xtra!, a magazine that publishes lesbian and gay Canadian news, requested an interview with Hauptman to which he originally assented and later declined.[11]

## Electoral record

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2020 British Columbia general election: Langley

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures
| New Democratic | Andrew Mercier | 11,089 | 47.17 | +12.56 | $28,812.20
| Liberal | Mary Polak | 8,014 | 34.09 | −10.31 | $41,052.70
| Green | Bill Masse | 2,469 | 10.50 | −4.77 | $1,354.87
| Conservative | Shelly Jan | 1,936 | 8.24 | +3.20 | $14,325.84
Total valid votes  | 23,508 | 100.00 | -
Total rejected ballots  |  |  |
Turnout  |  |  |
Registered voters  |
Source: Elections BC[12][13]

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2017 British Columbia general election: Langley

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures
| Liberal | Mary Polak | 10,755 | 44.40 | −7.04 | $57,403
| New Democratic | Gail Chaddock-Costello | 8,384 | 34.61 | +7.48 | $9,689
| Green | Elizabeth Helen Walker | 3,699 | 15.27 | +5.72 |
| Conservative | Justin Greenwood | 1,221 | 5.04 | −6.84 | $171
| Libertarian | Robert Kerr Pobran | 166 | 0.68 | - |
Total valid votes  | 24,225 | 100.00
Total rejected ballots  | 128 | 0.53
Turnout  | 24,353 | 59.40
Source: Elections BC[14]

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2013 British Columbia general election: Langley

Party  | Candidate  | Votes | % | ±% | Expenditures
| Liberal | Mary Polak | 14,039 | 51.44 | −5.18 | $110,992
| New Democratic | Andrew Mercier | 7,403 | 27.13 | −8.64 | $57,812
| Conservative | John Cummins | 3,242 | 11.88 | - | $21,714
| Green | Wally Martin | 2,608 | 9.55 | +1.95 | $586
Total valid votes  | 27,292 | 100.00
Total rejected ballots  | 122 | 0.45
Turnout  | 27,414 | 59.06
Source: Elections BC[15]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ For Liberal candidate Mary Polak, transportation is key The Leader [Surrey, B.C] 22 Oct 2004: 17.
2. ^ Text: Chamberlain v. Surrey School Board.
3. ^ "Supreme Court says B.C. school board wrong to ban same-sex books". CBC News. 20 December 2002. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
4. ^ Elections BC results Archived 2009-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
5. ^ Elections BC results Archived 2013-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ "'Marginalized' gay B.C. Liberal campaign manager quits". CBC News. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
7. ^ Dave White. "Campaign manager quits over apparent anti-gay sentiments: Liberal candidate Mary Polak says there may be more behind her manager's departure". CKWX. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
8. ^ Kelly Sinoski (7 May 2013). "Langley Liberal campaign manager resigns over gay rights issue". Global News. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
9. ^ John Ackermann (8 May 2013). "Riding Profile: Langley". CKWX. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
10. ^ Jeremy Nuttall (7 May 2013). "Minister's campaign head quits over gay rights". 24 Hours. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
11. ^ Jeremy Hainsworth (7 May 2013). "Mary Polak's gay campaign manager resigns". Xtra!. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
12. ^ "2020 Provincial General Election Final Voting Results". electionsbcenr.blob.core.windows.net. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
13. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
14. ^ "Statement of Votes – 41st Provincial General Election – May 9, 2017" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
15. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Mary Polak, MLA for Langley
* Mary Polak, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
* Minister's bio in BC Newsroom
* British Columbia Ministry of Environment
* @MaryforBC on Twitter

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Cabinet of Premier of British Columbia Christy Clark (2011–2017)

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Christy Clark

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Cabinet of Premier of British Columbia Gordon Campbell (2001–2011)

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Gordon Campbell

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