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Joe Clark

Personal data
Date of birthJune 5, 1939(age 76)
Place of birthHigh River, Alberta
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseMaureen McTeer
ChildrenCatherine Clark
ResidenceCalgary, Alberta
Alma materUniversity of Alberta
OccupationJournalist, Businessman, Professor
ReligionRoman Catholic
16th Prime Minister of Canada
In officeJune 4, 1979 - March 3, 1980
MonarchElizabeth II
Succeeded byPierre Trudeau
Preceded byPierre Trudeau
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Rocky Mountain
In officeJanuary 4, 1973 - March 26, 1979
Succeeded byNone (district abolished)
Preceded byAllen Sulatycky
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Yellowhead
In officeMay 22, 1979 - September 8, 1993
Succeeded byCliff Breitkreuz
Preceded byNone (district created)
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Kings-Hants
In officeSeptember 11, 2000 - October 22, 2000
Succeeded byScott Brison
Preceded byScott Brison
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Calgary Centre
In officeJanuary 29, 2001 - May 23, 2004
Succeeded byLee Richardson
Preceded byEric Lowther

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Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, (born June 5, 1939) is a Canadian journalist, politician, statesman, businessman, and university professor. He served as the 16th Prime Minister of Canada, from June 4, 1979, to March 3, 1980.

Despite his relative inexperience, Clark rose quickly in federal politics, entering the House of Commons in the 1972 election and winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1976. He came to power in the 1979 election, defeating the Liberal government of Pierre Trudeau and ending sixteen continuous years of Liberal rule. Taking office the day before his 40th birthday, Clark is the youngest person to become Prime Minister. His tenure was brief as he only won a minority government, and it was defeated on a motion of non-confidence. Clark subsequently lost the 1980 election and the leadership of the party in 1983.

He returned to prominence in 1984 as a senior cabinet minister in Brian Mulroney's cabinet, retiring from politics after not standing for re-election for the House of Commons in 1993. He made a political comeback in 1998 to lead the Progressive Conservatives before its dissolution, serving his final term in Parliament from 2000 to 2004. Clark today is recognized as a distinguished scholar and statesman, and serves as a university professor and as president of his own consulting firm.


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