Robert Howard McClelland (born November 2, 1933) is a former broadcaster, journalist and political figure in British Columbia.[1] He represented Langley in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1972 to 1986 as a member of the Social Credit Party.
Bob McClelland | |
|---|---|
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Langley | |
| In office August 30, 1972 – October 22, 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Hunter Vogel |
| Succeeded by | Carol Gran Dan Peterson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Howard McClelland November 2, 1933 Calgary, Alberta |
| Political party | Social Credit |
| Residence(s) | Kelowna, British Columbia |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
Early life and career
editMcClelland was born and educated in Calgary, Alberta. He moved to British Columbia as a driver for a furniture moving company. Later he worked as a broadcaster for radio station CHQM, as publisher of the Fraser Valley News Herald and as publisher of a monthly country and western music newspaper. He served as an alderman in Langley from 1969 to 1972.
Provincial politics
editIn 1972, McClelland was elected to the Legislative Assembly of B.C. under the banner of the Social Credit Party. In 1973 he ran unsuccessfully for the leadership of the party.[2] He later served under Premier Bill Bennett as Minister of Health, Minister of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources, Minister of Labour and Minister of Industry and Small Business Development.[3]
McClelland earned the nickname "Broadway Bob" from his opponents after a controversy arose in 1982 about a taxpayer-paid visit in 1980 to New York City. The trip included tickets to a burlesque Broadway musical and costs for keeping a limousine on standby for ten hours at Plaza Hotel.[4]
The Top Hat Affair
editOn the night of Feb. 26, 1985, the day before he was transferred from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Industry and Small Business, McClelland phoned and paid $130 as a customer[3] to Top Hat Productions, a Victoria escort service that was under surveillance by police.[5] On Nov. 27, 1987, McClelland was called by the defence to testify in the criminal trial of Top Hat's operator, Arlie Blakely, who faced 19 counts of offences related to prostitution. McClelland testified that he had drunk too much alcohol that night to retain memory of everything that happened.[6] The matter became known as the "Top Hat Affair". McClelland retained his cabinet position until July 1986, when Bill Vander Zalm became the leader of the Social Credit Party and the Premier of B.C. He did not seek re-election.
References
edit- ^ Normandin, P.G.; Normandin, A.L. (1978). The Canadian parliamentary guide. Normandin. ISSN 0315-6168. Retrieved Feb 26, 2015.
- ^ Nichols, Marjorie (November 22, 1973). "Six Socreds in the corridor". Vancouver Sun. p. 6. Retrieved Feb 4, 2012.
- ^ a b "Bennett won't fire minister". Vancouver Sun. pp. 1–2. Retrieved Feb 4, 2012.
- ^ McMartin, Will (March 21, 2011). "Opinion: More on Liberal Insiders and BC Hydro's Smart Meter Gold Rush". The Tyee. Retrieved Feb 21, 2015.
- ^ Barrett, Tom (Apr 23, 2013). "The Labour Minister Whose Visa Card Was X-Rated". The Tyee. Retrieved Feb 21, 2015.
- ^ Bitonti, Daniel (May 24, 2013). "Reviewing lessons at the school for scandal's B.C. campus". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved Feb 21, 2015.