Tom Chambers (politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas "Tom" William Chambers (born July 7, 1928) is a former provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1971 to 1986. During his time in office he served as a member of the Executive Council of Alberta
serving various portfolios from 1978 to 1986.
. He won the new electoral district of Edmonton-Calder
defeating incumbent Social Credit MLA Edgar Gerhart
to pickup the electoral district for the Progressive Conservative party. The win would help the Progressive Conservatives form government in that election.
Chambers ran for a second term in office in the 1975 Alberta general election
. Despite Chambers losing a small portion of his popular vote, the opposition candidates running against him would see a significant vote drop, he was returned to office easily. Premier Peter Lougheed
would appoint Chambers to his first ministerial portfolio on April 24, 1978. He served the remainder of his second term as Minister of Housing and Public Works.
Chambers ran for re-election to a third term in the 1979 general election
. Despite holding a ministerial portfolio his popular vote dropped for the second straight election. After the election he kept his portfolio for a second term.
The 1982 Alberta general election
would see Chambers win a significant increase in his popular vote, he would easily score the best popular vote of his political career. The opposition vote coalesced around New Democratic candidate Christie Mjolsness, forcing a hotly contested three way race. After the election the Housing portion of his portfolio was split off and Chambers became Minister of Public Works, Supply, and Services. He would continue hold that portfolio after Don Getty
became Premier in 1985. Chambers retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1986.
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...
, Canada
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...
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
from 1971 to 1986. During his time in office he served as a member of the Executive Council of Alberta
Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...
serving various portfolios from 1978 to 1986.
Political career
Chambers ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1971 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1971
The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He won the new electoral district of Edmonton-Calder
Edmonton-Calder
Edmonton-Calder is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. It is currently represented by Progressive Conservative MLA Doug Elniski.-Boundary history:- Members of the Legislative Assembly :...
defeating incumbent Social Credit MLA Edgar Gerhart
Edgar Gerhart
Edgar Henry Gerhart was a lawyer judge and provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1952 to 1971 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government...
to pickup the electoral district for the Progressive Conservative party. The win would help the Progressive Conservatives form government in that election.
Chambers ran for a second term in office in the 1975 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1975
The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. Despite Chambers losing a small portion of his popular vote, the opposition candidates running against him would see a significant vote drop, he was returned to office easily. Premier Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
would appoint Chambers to his first ministerial portfolio on April 24, 1978. He served the remainder of his second term as Minister of Housing and Public Works.
Chambers ran for re-election to a third term in the 1979 general election
Alberta general election, 1979
The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. Despite holding a ministerial portfolio his popular vote dropped for the second straight election. After the election he kept his portfolio for a second term.
The 1982 Alberta general election
Alberta general election, 1982
The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
would see Chambers win a significant increase in his popular vote, he would easily score the best popular vote of his political career. The opposition vote coalesced around New Democratic candidate Christie Mjolsness, forcing a hotly contested three way race. After the election the Housing portion of his portfolio was split off and Chambers became Minister of Public Works, Supply, and Services. He would continue hold that portfolio after Don Getty
Don Getty
Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...
became Premier in 1985. Chambers retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the Assembly in 1986.