Doug Lauchlan
Encyclopedia
Doug Lauchlan is a Canadian
politician, minister and educator. From 1980 to 1982, he was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
.
Lauchlan was an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada
, and was the President of Mount Royal College, Calgary during the 1970s. He also worked as an advisor to Lloyd Axworthy
.
In 1979, Lauchlan was a federal Liberal
candidate in the Alberta
riding of Calgary West
. He was defeated by Progressive Conservative
Jim Hawkes
.
On November 30, 1980, Lauchlan was elected leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
, defeating Hugh Moran
by 493 votes to 300. The Manitoba
Liberals were in a precarious position in this period, holding only one seat in the provincial legislature (that of June Westbury
, who replaced Axworthy in the by-election).
With the electorate polarized between the Progressive Conservatives
and New Democrats
, the Liberals were unable to present themselves as a viable alternative. In the general election of 1981, Lauchlan finished a poor third in the riding of Wolseley and the Liberal Party was eliminated from the legislature for the only time in its history. Lauchlan resigned as party leader in 1982.
Lauchlan subsequently returned to Alberta
. In 1988, he was recognized by the Canadian Speech Association as Speaker of the Year. He was also a director of the Banff Centre
for a time.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician, minister and educator. From 1980 to 1982, he was the leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
.
Lauchlan was an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, and was the President of Mount Royal College, Calgary during the 1970s. He also worked as an advisor to Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Norman Axworthy, PC, OC, OM is a prominent Canadian politician, statesman and University President from Manitoba. He is best known for having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien...
.
In 1979, Lauchlan was a federal Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
candidate in the Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
riding of Calgary West
Calgary West
Calgary West is a federal electoral district in Alberta, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1953, and since 1979. It is located in the western part of the City of Calgary....
. He was defeated by Progressive Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada
The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada was a Canadian political party with a centre-right stance on economic issues and, after the 1970s, a centrist stance on social issues....
Jim Hawkes
Jim Hawkes
Frederick James "Jim" Hawkes, , is a former Canadian politician.-Early life and education:Hawkes was born in Calgary, Alberta. He studied at Sir George Williams College , earning a B.A. in 1957....
.
On November 30, 1980, Lauchlan was elected leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party
Manitoba Liberal Party
The Manitoba Liberal Party is a political party in Manitoba, Canada. Its roots can be traced to the late nineteenth-century, following the province's creation in 1870.-Origins and early development :...
, defeating Hugh Moran
Hugh Moran
Hugh Moran is a Manitoba businessman and politician.In 1975, Moran became president of By-Pass Ranch Ltd. The company has operated a ranching business, a top producing real estate brokerage, Canada Trust Moran Real Estate and one of Canada’s leading management companies, BPR Communications.Moran...
by 493 votes to 300. The Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
Liberals were in a precarious position in this period, holding only one seat in the provincial legislature (that of June Westbury
June Westbury
June Westbury was a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1979 to 1981, sitting as a Liberal....
, who replaced Axworthy in the by-election).
With the electorate polarized between the Progressive Conservatives
Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba
The Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba is the only right wing political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is also the official opposition party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.-Origins and early years:...
and New Democrats
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
, the Liberals were unable to present themselves as a viable alternative. In the general election of 1981, Lauchlan finished a poor third in the riding of Wolseley and the Liberal Party was eliminated from the legislature for the only time in its history. Lauchlan resigned as party leader in 1982.
Lauchlan subsequently returned to Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. In 1988, he was recognized by the Canadian Speech Association as Speaker of the Year. He was also a director of the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
for a time.