Tony Clarke was an extraordinary human being. He was an intellectual, a policy wonk, and most of all, a formidable activist for social, economic, and environmental justice for people in Canada and around the world. He passed away on December 4, leaving behind a legacy of struggles for justice and equality.
A celebration of Tony’s life will be held on on April 19 at 1 :00p.m. at the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. All who knew him are welcome to attend.
Growing up in Chilliwack, British Columbia, he completed his academic studies with a PhD from the University of Chicago in 1974. Moving to Ottawa, Tony headed the social action department for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB).
He represented the CCCB on the Working Group for Social Solidarity which began meeting in 1986 and produced the declaration A Time to Stand Together; A Time for Social Solidarity in November 1987.He took a leave of absence from the CCCB and started the Action Canada Network to mobilize against the Canada-Us Free Trade Agreement. It was an unprecedented, diverse coalition of civil society groups and labour unions. He was eventually dismissed from the CCCB.
I became the first Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives researcher in 1991 and executive director at the beginning 1994. Tony had been a CCPA board member for a period in its early days, before my time.
The Action Canada Network shared offices with Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in the so-called “building of lost causes” in Ottawa. As the NAFTA negotiations proceeded, I have fond memories of travelling around Mexico with Tony alongside Mexican and US counterparts following the trade negotiators. Lots of protests, lots of strategizing, lots of partying. They were heady times indeed.
In 1997, Tony founded the Polaris Institute, “dedicated to developing tools and strategies notably to confront corporate power dominating public policy.” It focused on water rights, climate change, energy and trade policy issues and struggles both nationally and internationally.
Tony played a key role in building opposition to, and defeating the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), and in campaigning against the WTO’s free-trade agenda, especially in Seattle in 1999.
Tony and Maude Barlow were awarded the Right Livelihood Award—the alternative Nobel—in 2005. Maude described the award ceremony as an extraordinarily moving event which brought together a community of activists from the Global North and Global South.
Tony founded the Green Economy Network in 2009, a coalition of union and environmental groups that advocated for the creation of 1 million climate jobs. That plan, more essential than ever, is described at length in his last book, Getting to Zero, published in 2018.
Tony was author, or co-author, of a dozen books. Silent Coup: Confronting the Big Business Takeover of Canada had the most influence on me personally. It was published in 1997 shortly after I became CCPA executive director. In a blurb for the book I wrote, “it is a wake-up call and the blueprint for action… how CEOs seized power and how we can disempower them”
I was on the Polaris Institute board for its last years until it shut down in 2023. In closing, the Institute gifted a donation to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to create an annual speakers’ series celebrating Tony’s legacy and honouring someone who has been instrumental in fighting the corporate monolith. The CCPA announced the speaker series in the spring of 2024 at a National Arts Centre event, (fortunately while Tony was still alive, though unable to attend). The Centre is planning to introduce the first inaugural speaker event in 2025.
In his last years, I visited Tony from time to time while he was still at home and later at the Elmsmere Villa Retirement Residence. While still at home, Tony and I would stroll around the neighbourhood.Tony used a walker. I did most of the talking, reliving memories and keeping him up to date on current events.
Joe Gunn, one of his closest friends, visited almost every Saturday and would take him for walks. For Joe, Tony epitomized the archetypal passionate, joyful movement builder. Joe told me, “Tony was so passionately committed to create a better world, so open to include and encourage more and more of us to meaningful activism—Tony’s inspired gift was that he managed to make all of us better.”
He was my mentor, my inspiration. When I was at times discouraged about our movement’s inability to overcome the corporate hold on power, Tony’s words of encouragement reminded me of Leonard Cohen: “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”
I visited Tony less than two weeks before he passed. As usual, he recognized me. He rarely spoke but as I was leaving, I said, “Tony I’ll be back soon.” He replied, “you’d better.”
We have been blessed by his presence on this earth. A truly remarkable life.
Our deepest condolences to his wife Carol, his daughter Tanya, and his son Chris. We mourn your loss.
Your struggle these last years is over. Rest in peace, Tony.
In tribute to Tony Clarke
We mourn the loss of a truly inspiring Canadian activist, Tony Clarke (1944-2024).
Tony was a longtime participant at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ research and governance tables, and authored or co-authored a number of CCPA publications like Silent Coup. He was an advisor, mentor and friend to countless activists and allies across the country and around the world.
In 1997, Tony founded the Polaris Institute, “for the purpose of unmasking the corporate power that lies behind government.” In addition to exposing the impact of the global corporate agenda on democracy and on the planet, it was active on water, energy and trade policy issues.
The CCPA is honoured to keep Tony Clarke’s legacy alive. In 2025 we will host the first of an ongoing lecture series, in Tony’s memory.
Should you wish to honour Tony Clarke’s life and legacy by supporting the Tony Clarke Speaker Series, consider donating to the CCPA’s National Research Fund. Please check the box that says: I would like to dedicate this donation and include Tony Clarke in the donation form. https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E920225QE&id=34.
