Amrik Virk
Amrik Virk in 2013
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Surrey-Tynehead
In office
May 14, 2013 – May 9, 2017
Preceded byDave Hayer
Succeeded byRiding redistributed
Personal details
Born1963 or 1964 (age 59–60)[1]
India
Political partyLiberal
SpouseJatinder Virk
ChildrenJusleen Virk
Anisha Virk
Maansi Virk
Residence(s)Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
ProfessionPolice officer, politician

Amrik S. Virk (born 1963 or 1964) is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2013 provincial election.[2] He represented the electoral district of Surrey-Tynehead as a member of the British Columbia Liberal Party and was appointed Minister of Advanced Education on June 10, 2013, by Premier Christy Clark. Following a compensation scandal, he was appointed Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services on December 18, 2014, dropping his responsibilities for Advanced Education.

Biography

Virk was born in India and moved to the Canadian city of Williams Lake at the age of five years. He has lived in Surrey since 2002 with his wife Jatinder and their three daughters.[3]

Virk holds a B.A in Economics and History.[3] from Simon Fraser University.[4]

An extensive career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) included a variety of policing duties with a substantial portion of his experience with various First Nations communities. In 2001, Virk was commissioned to the rank of Inspector and posted to Surrey where he was active in the issue of youth and gang violence in communities throughout the Lower Mainland and worked extensively with community leaders to help create the British Columbia Integrated Gang Task force. He left Surrey RCMP in 2006 while serving as the acting Officer in Charge of Operations (one of two Deputy Chief equivalents) and transferred to Langley as the Officer in Charge of Operations.

Virk was a community volunteer. In six years spent on the board of directors of the Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation, he helped raise millions of dollars for enhancing health care for Surrey residents. He also served on the board of Kwantlen Polytechnic University.[3]

In April 2014, Virk was linked to a scheme to funnel $100,000 in excess compensation to two senior Kwantlen Polytechnic University administrators, a scheme that violated government rules on executive compensation and disclosure.[5] A report on the scandal, acknowledging wrongdoing but establishing no penalty, was released on June 17, 2014, in the shadow of the release of a long-awaited and controversial decision on an Enbridge pipeline expansion project.[6] However, a revised report was released showing that Virk was aware of the compensation violations. Virk was moved from Advanced Education to Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services on the same day the revised report was released.[7]

In the 2017 provincial election, Virk was defeated by Garry Begg in the redistributed riding of Surrey-Guildford.

Recognition

In addition to the RCMP Long Service Medal and Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery, Virk has received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal.[3]

Electoral record

2017 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Guildford
Party Candidate Votes % Expenditures
New Democratic Garry Begg 9,263 49.85 $67,072
Liberal Amrik Virk 7,015 37.76 $71,381
Green Jodi Murphy 1,840 9.90 $,1838
Christian Heritage Kevin Pielak 462 2.49 $1,015
Total valid votes 18,580 100.00
Total rejected ballots 133 0.71
Turnout 18,713 55.76
Registered voters 33,561
Source: Elections BC[8][9]
2013 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Tynehead
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Amrik Virk 9,172 48.15 -4.35
New Democratic Avtar Bains 7,539 39.58 -3.65
Conservative Barry J. Sikora 2,040 10.71 –
Vision Sukhi Gill 298 1.56 –
Total valid votes 19,049 100.00
Total rejected ballots 176 0.92
Turnout 19,225 52.13
Source: Elections BC[10]

References

  1. ^ New inspector joins higher echelons of Langley RCMP:: [Final Edition] Hooper, Roxanne. Langley Advance [Langley, B.C] 13 Oct 2006: 21.
  2. ^ "Riding results: Marvin Hunt and Peter Fassbender carry Liberals to victory in Surrey ridings" Archived 2017-08-04 at the Wayback Machine. Vancouver Sun, May 15, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "Meet Amrik". Official Candidate website. 2013. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  4. ^ Kwantlen Polytechnic University (12 June 2008). "Kwantlen Board of Governors announces newly appointed board members". News Release. Archived from the original on 2008-09-12. Retrieved July 10, 2013.
  5. ^ "Liberal cabinet minister Amrik Virk linked to Kwantlen compensation scandal". The Province. April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  6. ^ "Michael Smyth: Liberal MLA Virk must step aside for Kwantlen pay probe". June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "Amrik Virk moved out of advanced education ministry in B.C. government shuffle". Dec 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  8. ^ "2017 Provincial General Election - Statement of Votes" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Statement of Votes - 40th Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
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