Hugh Macarthur Horner (February 1, 1925 – March 27, 1997) was a physician and surgeon. He served as a Canadian federal and provincial politician. Horner was born in Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan. He was a Minister of the Crown in the province of Alberta and worked on agricultural projects after leaving politics.

Hugh Horner
Member of the Canadian Parliament
for Jasper—Edson
In office
1958–1967
Preceded byCharles Yuill
Succeeded byDouglas Marmaduke Caston
1st Deputy Premier of Alberta
In office
September 10, 1971 – October 1, 1979
PremierPeter Lougheed
Preceded byPosition Established
Succeeded byDavid John Russell
Personal details
Born(1925-02-01)February 1, 1925
Blaine Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
DiedMarch 27, 1997(1997-03-27) (aged 72)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative Party of Canada
RelationsJack Horner (Brother)
Norval Horner (Brother)
Albert Horner (Cousin)
ChildrenDoug Horner
ParentRalph Horner (Father)

Federal politics

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Horner first ran for a seat in the House of Commons of Canada in the 1958 federal election. He defeated incumbent Member of Parliament Charles Yuill to win his first term in office. Horner would run again in the 1962 federal election, and defeated Yuill once again to earn his second term in office. Parliament would be dissolved a year later after the minority government fell forcing the 1963 federal election. Horner ran for a third term and won in a landslide. Horner would run for his final term in federal office in the 1965 federal election. He won his district with another large majority. He would resign from his seat in 1967 to run for a seat in the provincial legislature.

Provincial politics

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Horner ran for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in the Lac Ste. Anne electoral district. He defeated incumbent William Patterson in a closely contested race to win the district.

Horner's district was abolished in 1971, so he decided to run in the new Barrhead district. He won the new district in the 1971 Alberta general election by a comfortable margin. Horner was appointed to the cabinet after being elected in 1971. His first post was Minister of Agriculture. He served that portfolio from 1971 to 1975. He also served as Minister of Transportation and Minister of Economic Development as well as Deputy Premier.

He retained his seat for a third term in the 1975 Alberta general election increasing his margin of victory. Horner ran for a fourth term and won his largest provincial plurality in the 1979 Alberta general election. He resigned his post less than a year later on October 1, 1979.[1]

Late life

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Horner was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1988 for his work in helping revive the Agriculture industry when he served as Minister of Agriculture in the province from 1971 to 1975.[2] Hugh Horner died of a heart attack in Edmonton in 1997.

Family

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Horner's family has been very active on the Canadian political scene, his father Ralph Horner served as a Canadian Senator representing Saskatchewan from 1933 to 1964. Horner's two brothers both served in the House of Commons of Canada. His brother Jack Horner served as a Member of Parliament and Minister of the Crown in Alberta from 1958 to 1979. His other brother Norval Horner served as a Member of Parliament in Saskatchewan from 1972 to 1974.

His son, Doug Horner, followed his footsteps to become Alberta's minister of agriculture in 2004 and went on to become deputy premier in 2010.

References

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  1. ^ "Summary of Results for Past By-elections". Elections Alberta. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  2. ^ "Horner, Hugh, 1988 Hall of Fame Inductee". Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
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Parliament of Canada
Preceded by Member of Parliament Jasper—Edson
1958-1967
Succeeded by
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Preceded by MLA Lac Ste. Anne
1967-1971
Succeeded by
District Abolished
Preceded by
New District
MLA Barrhead
1971-1979
Succeeded by