Otto Lang

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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 (age 91)
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 BA 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[citation needed], 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, the federal Liberal candidate for the riding of Toronto—Danforth in 2008 and 2011; Timothy Lang, a Vice-President at St. Francis Xavier University;[3] Gregory Lang, Chief Operating Officer of Solera Sustainable Energies Company; Elisabeth Lang, a lawyer and Director General of Program Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy in Ottawa;[4] Adrian Lang, a lawyer at BMO Financial Group in Toronto (she was formerly a partner with the law firm of Stikeman Elliott);[5] and Amanda Lang, a television news personality.

Election results

Federal Riding of Saskatoon East

Canadian federal election, 1979
Party Candidate Votes
New Democratic OGLE, Bob 15,234
Progressive Conservative MEYERS, Dan 13,256
Liberal LANG, Otto 12,631
Social Credit HOLTORF, Gary 117
Marxist–Leninist NEUFELD, Eric 64

Federal Riding of Saskatoon Humboldt

Canadian federal election, 1974
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal LANG, Otto 23,243
New Democratic FRIESEN, Julius 11,826
Progressive Conservative RHEAUME, Gene 11,592
Social Credit HOLTORF, Garry 548
Canadian federal election, 1972
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal LANG, Otto 24,733
New Democratic TAYLOR, George 16,426
Progressive Conservative BRAND, Lewis 12,533
Social Credit BLACK, Gerald G. 463
Not affiliated REID, James 102
Not affiliated ZAMULINSKI, Brian 89
Canadian federal election, 1968
Party Candidate Votes
Liberal LANG, Otto 15,210
New Democratic TAYLOR, George 14,655
Progressive Conservative BRAND, Lewis 14,444

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  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. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Profile
  5. Profile

External links

Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Manpower and Immigration
1970–1972
Succeeded by
Bryce Mackasey
Preceded by Minister of Justice
1972–1975
Succeeded by
Ron Basford
Preceded by Minister of Transport
1975–1979
Succeeded by
Don Mazankowski
Preceded by Minister of Communications
1975
Succeeded by
Jeanne Sauvé
Preceded by Minister of Justice
1978
Succeeded by
Marc Lalonde