Mark Eyking

Mark Eyking PC (born August 30, 1960) is a Canadian politician who served as the Member of Parliament for the riding of Sydney—Victoria from 2000 to 2019 as a member of the Liberal Party.

The Honourable Mark Eyking PC
Mark Eyking in 2017
Chairman of the Standing Committee on International Trade
In office February 4, 2016 – September 11, 2019
Preceded by	Randy Hoback
Succeeded by	Judy Sgro
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Sydney—Victoria
In office November 27, 2000 – September 11, 2019
Preceded by	Peter Mancini
Succeeded by	Jaime Battiste
Personal details
Born	(1960-08-30) August 30, 1960 Sydney, Nova Scotia
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Pam Eyking
Residence	Millville, Nova Scotia
Profession	Businessman, Farmer

Early life and education

Eyking was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia. His parents, born in Beverwijk (father) and Moergestel (mother), emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in 1952. Not being able to travel to their city of preference Vancouver due to a lack of funds, they chose to start a business in olericulture in Sydney, where Eyking was born eight years later. Eyking was educated at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, where he obtained his Agriculture Business Diploma.[1] Now a resident of Millville, Nova Scotia, Eyking is a farmer by career.[2][3]

Political career

On October 29, 2000, Eyking won the Liberal nomination in the Sydney—Victoria riding for the 2000 federal election.[2] On November 27, 2000, he defeated New Democrat incumbent Peter Mancini by over 5,000 votes to win a seat in the House of Commons.[4] Eyking was re-elected in the 2004,[5] 2006,[6] 2008,[1] 2011,[7] and 2015 federal elections.[8] In Paul Martin's government, he served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food with special emphasis on Agri-Food (2003–2004) and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade with special emphasis on Emerging Markets (2004–2006).[9]

He served as the chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade during the 42nd Canadian Parliament. Eyking announced on February 13, 2019 that he wouldn't run for re-election in 2019.[10]

Personal life

His wife Pam represented the riding of Victoria-The Lakes as a Liberal MLA in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 2013 to 2017.[11]

References

1. "Election 2008 candidate profile". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
2. "Grits give Eyking nod in Sydney-Victoria". The Chronicle Herald. October 30, 2000. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
3. Wilson, Barry (April 5, 2001). "Maritime farmer sows seeds of new career". The Western Producer. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
4. "NDP's Mancini loses to Liberal farmer Eyking". The Chronicle Herald. November 28, 2000. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
5. "Farmer Eyking on his way back to Ottawa". The Chronicle Herald. June 29, 2004. Archived from the original on September 20, 2005. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
6. "Canada Votes 2006: Sydney-Victoria". CBC News. June 23, 2006. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
7. "Eyking wins Sydney-Victoria seat in close race against Clarke". Cape Breton Post. May 2, 2011. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
8. "Eyking wins big in Sydney-Victoria". Cape Breton Post. October 19, 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
9. "Parliamentary Secretaries – 27th Ministry". Parliament of Canada. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
10. Martin, Wendy (February 13, 2019). "'It's been a wonderful run': Long-time Cape Breton MP Mark Eyking won't reoffer". CBC News.
11. "Eyking Takes Victoria-The Lakes from incumbent". Cape Breton Post. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on October 9, 2013. Retrieved 2015-12-11.

External links

• Official site
• Mark Eyking – Parliament of Canada biography
• Liberal Party of Canada bio