Otto Lang

see also Otto Lang (film producer) and Otto Lang (actor)
The Honourable
Otto Lang
PC, OC, QC
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Saskatoon—Humboldt
In office
1968–1979
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Robert Ogle
Personal details
Born Otto Emil Lang
(1932-05-14) May 14, 1932
Handel, Saskatchewan
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Deborah McCawley
Adrian Merchant (div.)
Occupation Lawyer

Otto Emil Lang, PC OC QC, (born May 14, 1932) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician.

Life and career

Lang was born in Handel, Saskatchewan. In 1961, he was appointed Dean of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, the youngest person to be appointed to that position, and served until 1969.[1]

Lang was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1968 election, and was re-elected in the 1972 and 1974 elections as the Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Humboldt. He served as Minister without Portfolio (1968–70), Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board (1969–79), Acting Minister of Mines, Energy and Resources (1969),[2] Minister of Manpower and Immigration (1970–72), Minister of Justice and Attorney General (1972–75), Minister of Transport (1975–79), Acting Minister of Communications (1975), Acting Minister of Justice and Attorney General (1978), and Minister of Justice and Attorney General (1978).[1] He was defeated in the 1979 federal election by Robert Ogle of the New Democratic Party.

Following his career in politics, Lang served as the Executive Vice-President of Pioneer Grain Co. Ltd., Chairman of the Transport Institute at the University of Manitoba and as President, CEO of Centra Gas Manitoba Inc. He is currently retired, but serves as a director of several companies, including Investor's Group and the Winnipeg Airport Authority. In 2005-06 Lang served as the co-chair of the federal Liberal election campaign for Manitoba.

A Rhodes Scholar, Lang holds a B.A. and an LL.B. from the University of Saskatchewan, a B.C.L from Oxford University (Exeter College) and an LL.D. from the University of Manitoba. He played for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club, winning two Blues.

In 1999, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Despite his successes and public accolades, he is reviled by many for the role he played in the elimination of the Crow Rate, an action that benefitted - some even say unjustly enriched - shareholders of the CPR - and robbed thousands of small farmers in Saskatchewan of the viability of their farms, leading to the large corporate farms of today, and depopulated and destroyed rural communities.

Family

Lang is married to Madame Justice Deborah McCawley of the Court of Queen's Bench of Manitoba. They currently reside in Manitoba. He was previously married to Adrian Merchant.

Lang is the father of seven children (one deceased, Maria): Andrew Lang, a communications advisor who was the federal Liberal candidate for the riding of Toronto—Danforth in 2008 and 2011;[3] Timothy Lang, President and CEO of Youth Employment Services in Toronto;[4] Gregory Lang, Chief Operating Officer of Solera Sustainable Energies Company; Elisabeth Lang, a lawyer and Deputy Superintendent of Program Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada in Ottawa;[5] Adrian Lang, Associate General Counsel at BMO Financial Group in Toronto (she was formerly a partner with the law firm of Stikeman Elliott);[6] and Amanda Lang, a television news personality.

Election results

Federal Riding of Saskatoon East

Canadian federal election, 1979
Party Candidate Votes
New DemocraticOGLE, Bob 15,234
Progressive ConservativeMEYERS, Dan 13,256
LiberalLANG, Otto 12,631
Social CreditHOLTORF, Gary 117
Marxist–LeninistNEUFELD, Eric 64

Federal Riding of Saskatoon Humboldt

Canadian federal election, 1974
Party Candidate Votes
LiberalLANG, Otto 23,243
New DemocraticFRIESEN, Julius 11,826
Progressive ConservativeRHEAUME, Gene 11,592
Social CreditHOLTORF, Garry 548
Canadian federal election, 1972
Party Candidate Votes
LiberalLANG, Otto 24,733
New DemocraticTAYLOR, George 16,426
Progressive ConservativeBRAND, Lewis 12,533
Social CreditBLACK, Gerald G. 463
Not affiliatedREID, James 102
Not affiliatedZAMULINSKI, Brian 89
Canadian federal election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes
LiberalLANG, Otto 15,210
New DemocraticTAYLOR, George 14,655
Progressive ConservativeBRAND, Lewis 14,444

References

  1. 1 2 "Otto E. Lang fonds". Library and Archives Canada. 1957–1997. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ Winnipeg Free Press, 5 February 1969, p. 15. Lang was acting in the place of Joseph Greene, who was required to take a leave of absence due to poor health.
  3. ↑ Andrew Lang - Profile
  4. ↑ "YES appoints Timothy Lang as new President & CEO". Youth Employment Services. June 6, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  5. ↑ Elisabeth Lang - Profile
  6. ↑ Adrian Lang - Profile

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Allan MacEachen		 Minister of Manpower and Immigration
1970–1972 		Succeeded by
Bryce Mackasey
Preceded by
John Turner		 Minister of Justice
1972–1975 		Succeeded by
Ron Basford
Preceded by
Jean Marchand		 Minister of Transport
1975–1979 		Succeeded by
Don Mazankowski
Preceded by
Pierre Juneau		 Minister of Communications
1975 		Succeeded by
Jeanne Sauvé
Preceded by
Ron Basford		 Minister of Justice
1978 		Succeeded by
Marc Lalonde
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/11/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.