Former MP Inky Mark attends a press conference in Edmonton, on Aug. 22, 2002. CP photo/Adrian Wyld
Former Manitoba MP and Dauphin Mayor Inky Mark is facing new weapons-related charges after being arrested and charged in July as part of an ongoing RCMP firearms trafficking investigation.
Mark was charged with gun trafficking and several other firearms-related charges last month after police reported seizing 439 guns, an antique cannon, ammunition, and more than $300,000 in cash from his western Manitoba home near the city of Dauphin.
RCMP announced this week that the 78-year-old former politician was re-arrested on new charges on Aug. 12 as part of its investigation.
Another 10 were prohibited and 11 were restricted or prohibited firearms that were not registered to Mark, the RCMP said.
Investigators are now reporting the seizure of 26.5 kilograms of explosives from Mark’s home, which they say exceeds by more than four times the amount licensed individuals are permitted to possess.
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Police also said a number of restricted or prohibited firearms were stored with readily available ammunition and two guns registered to Mark could not be found.
The RCMP reported that it also became aware of an alleged incident that occurred at some point between December 2024 and February 2025.
“Officers learned the suspect responded to a social media post from a friend complaining about a coyote on their property by going to the person’s home unprompted and handing them a firearm with ammunition,” police said. “The individual did not use the weapon, which has been recovered by RCMP.”
Mark was taken into custody again on Aug. 12 and 26 new charges were filed against him, on top of the previous 12.
He now faces an additional count of weapons trafficking as well as nine counts of possessing a restricted or prohibited weapon with ammunition without a licence or registration, nine counts of possessing a firearm while being aware possession is unauthorized, three counts of knowingly possessing a prohibited weapon, two counts of failing to report a lost firearm, possessing a firearm with a tampered serial number, and having more than six kilograms of explosives.
Mark has since been released on an undertaking.
Dauphin RCMP’s General Investigation Section recovered 445 weapons from a Dauphin, Man. residence in July. RCMP handout photo
Investigation’s Beginnings
Manitoba RCMP Cpl. Barry Kirby told reporters last month the trafficking investigation dated back to late March, when the police received information about firearms charges filed in the United States against a 73-year-old man from Dauphin.
Kirby said a search warrant connected with that case led RCMP to find and seize firearms that Mark has been accused of purchasing. Police are alleging the guns were “never lawfully transferred.”
Mark has no criminal history and Kirby described him as “a firearm collector,” but he told reporters at the time his unit is still investigating why the former MP had so many guns.
None of the charges against Mark have been tested in court and the Epoch Times was unable to reach him for comment before publication.
He was elected in five elections between 1997 and 2008 as a candidate for Reform, the Canadian Alliance, and the Conservative Party, and attempted to run as an Independent in the 2015 election but lost.
