Otto Lang
Canadian politician (born 1932)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Otto Emil Lang PC OC KC (born 14 May 1932) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician.
- see also Otto Lang (film producer) and Otto Lang (actor)
Otto Lang | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Transport | |
| In office 26 September 1975 – 3 June 1979 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Jean Marchand |
| Succeeded by | Don Mazankowski |
| Minister of Communications | |
| Acting 25 October 1975 – 4 December 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Pierre Juneau |
| Succeeded by | Jeanne Sauvé |
| Minister of Justice Attorney General of Canada | |
| Acting 3 August 1978 – 8 August 1978 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Ron Basford |
| Succeeded by | Marc Lalonde |
| In office 28 January 1972 – 25 September 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | John Turner |
| Succeeded by | Ron Basford |
| Minister of Manpower and Immigration | |
| In office 24 September 1970 – 27 January 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Preceded by | Allan MacEachen |
| Succeeded by | Bryce Mackasey |
| Minister without portfolio | |
| In office 6 July 1968 – 23 September 1970 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Trudeau |
| Member of Parliament for Saskatoon—Humboldt | |
| In office 25 June 1968 – 21 May 1979 | |
| Preceded by | Riding created |
| Succeeded by | Robert Ogle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Otto Emil Lang 14 May 1932 Handel, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Party | Liberal |
| Spouse(s) |
Adrian Merchant
(m. 1963; div. 1988) |
| Children | 7, including Amanda, Timothy |
| Education | |
| Profession |
|
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 House of Commons of Canada 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] His riding was abolished ahead of the 1979 federal election, and when he ran in the successor constituency of Saskatoon East, he lost to 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. He also took part in international activities as the Honorary Consul-General of Japan.[3]
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.
Family
Lang is married to Madam Justice Deborah McCawley of the Court of King's Bench of Manitoba. They currently reside in Manitoba. He was previously married to Adrian Merchant, the daughter of Sally Merchant.
Lang is the father of seven children: Maria Lang (d. 1991); Andrew Lang, a communications advisor who was the federal Liberal candidate for the riding of Toronto—Danforth in 2008 and 2011;[4] Timothy Lang, President and CEO of Youth Employment Services (Canada) in Toronto;[5][6] Gregory Lang, a consultant;[7] Elisabeth Lang, Superintendent of Bankruptcy at the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy;[8][9] Adrian Lang, a lawyer and senior executive at Staples Canada in Toronto (she was formerly a partner with the law firm of Stikeman Elliott);[10] and Amanda Lang, a television news personality, best selling author and currently host of CTV's Taking Stock.
Election results
Federal Riding of Saskatoon East
| 1979 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| 1974 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||||
| 1972 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||||
| 1968 Canadian federal election | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | ||||||
| Liberal | LANG, Otto | 15,210 | ||||||
| New Democratic | TAYLOR, George | 14,655 | ||||||
| Progressive Conservative | BRAND, Lewis | 14,444 | ||||||
Archives
There is an Otto E. Lang fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[11]