As she announces plans to resign, MLA Melanie Mark holds nothing back in commentary of Legislature culture

BC NDP MLA and former Cabinet Minister Melanie Mark announced
her plans to step aside from elected political life on Wednesday

Melanie Mark, who until recently was one of the first female Indigenous Cabinet Ministers in British Columbia announced her intention to step aside from politics on Wednesday.

Her speech in the Legislature one which provided for a blistering reproach to how the institution functions noting how at times she felt as though the place was a torture chamber.

Her address hailed those who helped her achieve her quest to be an MLA, from her immediate family an expansive list of those to whom the MLA for Vancouver-Mount Pleasant saluted. 

Her commentary highlighted her ancestry Nisg̱a’a and Gitxsan people on her mothers side and Cree, Ojibway, French and Scottish on her father's side.

Her notes taking the Chamber through a wide overview of some Indigenous history in the province as well to speak of her history of challenges and disappointments, happy times and sad ones as well. 

Ms Mark also reviewed some of her work as Minister of Sport and then with the Tourism portfolio as well as other initiatives introduced through her time. Her commentary also paying tribute to former Premier John Horgan for his support and encouragement during her seven years of elected service.

But it was when she reached her overview of her life the Legislature that the narrative put her impressions of life as an MLA into focus and explains why she has chosen to depart from elected political life.

Seven years and three elections since I took my seat here. I'm still the only First Nations woman to hold a seat in this chamber and to serve in our cabinet. 

Take a moment and think about that. I wanted to be an MLA so I could be a strong voice for my community, the people I grew up with, and so I could be a champion for change. 

I wanted to disrupt the status quo. I wanted big systems to change. 

In many ways, I have done what I came here to do. 

But it's also a fact that institutions fundamentally resist change. 

They are allergic to doing things differently, particularly colonial institutions like this Legislative Assembly and government at large. 

There is a lot that I'm proud of, but this journey has been challenging and has come at a significant personal toll. 

This place felt like a torture chamber. I will not miss the character assassination. 

I have been proud, so proud, Mr. Speaker, to represent the great constituency and amazingly resilient people of Vancouver–Mount Pleasant, but it's time for me to make a change. 

I've been an advocate and public servant for 27 years. It has been my honour to serve. 

I will continue my advocacy and fight for positive change from outside this House. I will continue using my big mouth to speak up for the voiceless and those who don't vote, mainly children, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and Mother Earth  

Members of this House have heard me say that we need to paddle together, but the fact is the political environment is cut-throat and dysfunctional. Disrupting the status quo is about using your power for good to adjust policies that stand in the way of people living their best and healthiest lives. 

Future generations need us to have the guts to have their backs and fight for their rights. This place can't be all about votes, polling and posturing. People need to know that their lives matter, their communities matter, their justice matters. People have no recourse but to sleep on the streets. That's unacceptable and inhumane. 

While our government has done so much work to address these systemic issues, there's so much more work to do. It is not partisan to be a human rights activist. This institution needs to be less partisan. We need to have the guts and courage to do the right and hard things in these chambers.

Premier David Eby followed her comments with his own observations of her work in the Legislature, Opposition House Leader Todd Stone also offered his own words in thanks of her service to the province.

The full speech can be viewed through the Parliamentary Archive, Ms. Mark's Comments begin at 1:51 PM

While her speech of Wednesday did provide a sense of a closing of her political time in the legislature, the actual formal date of her resignation of her seat has yet to be announced.

The speech captured much in the way of media attention on Wednesday, some of the notes from political observers in Victoria can be reviewed below:

Former BC NDP cabinet minister Melanie Mark to resign Vancouver seat, cites health

Melanie Mark, 1st First Nations woman to serve in BC Legislature, resigns with blistering speech

Melanie Mark will resign as MLA, saying BC Legislature felt like a 'torture chamber' 

BC's first female First Nations Cabinet minister steps down

Melanie Mark, first First Nations woman elected to BC legislature, leaving politics 

MLA Melanie Mark calls BC Legislature' torture' in resignation speech

'This place felt lime a Torture Chamber'

Our notes on the BC Legislature can be explored here.

More background on the Legislature can be explored through our political blog D'Arcy McGee.