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Frank was born and educated in
Saskatchewan, receiving his Arts and Law degrees from the
University of Saskatchewan.
Prior to being elected to the
Saskatchewan Legislature on November 5, 2003, Frank practiced
law in Saskatoon. Active in his community, Frank served on
the boards of the Saskatoon Co-op, the Saskatoon Health
Region, and the Child Hunger and Education Program. Frank
also served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the
University of Saskatchewan.
On November 21, 2003, he was
appointed Minister of Justice and Attorney General, as well as
Minister Responsible for SaskPower.
During his tenure as Minister
Responsible for SaskPower, the Crown utility has constructed
the Centennial Wind Power Plant which will produce enough
electricity to power 64,000 homes and make Saskatchewan the
national leader in the proportion of electricity produced by
wind.
As Minister of Justice, Frank
led the government response to the Commission on First Nations
and Métis Peoples and Justice Reform, and to the Inquiry into
Matters Relating to the Death of Neil Stonechild.
During Frank’s tenure as
Minister of Justice, the Government of Saskatchewan has
implemented:
- The
Pawned Property Recording Act, which empowers our
province’s municipalities to require pawn shop owners to
immediately notify police about the property brought into
their shops and verify the identity of the person pawning
the item. The intent of the legislation is to make it more
difficult to sell stolen property and easier to recover it;
- The
Seizure of Criminal Property Act, which allows for the
seizure of the proceeds of crime or property used for an
unlawful activity; and
- The
Criminal Enterprise Suppression Act, which enables the
courts to shut down a business owned or operated by
organized crime.
Frank also launched the Safer
Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) initiative which
empowers citizens to confidentially report suspected unlawful
activities in their neighbourhoods. Investigations by the
Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit of the Department of
Justice have resulted in shutting down many drug houses,
brothels and other buildings housing illegal activities.
Frank has also led reforms to
both the Coroners Office and the Police Complaints
Investigator.
While Frank has served as
Minister of Justice, the Government of Saskatchewan has
significantly increased provincial funding for police,
thereby:
- Strengthening police numbers
in the province
- Enabling police services to
recruit a representative police force
- Supporting a missing persons
initiative and an organized crime suppression strategy.
Frank and his wife have three
children. |
