Otto Lang

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 May 14, 1932 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 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.

Despite his successes and public accolades, he is reviled by many for the role he played in the elimination of the Crow Rate, 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, a communications advisor who was the federal Liberal candidate for the riding of Toronto—Danforth in 2008 and 2011;^[3] Timothy Lang, President and CEO of Youth Employment Services in Toronto;^[4] Gregory Lang, Chief Operating Officer of Solera Sustainable Energies Company; Elisabeth Lang, a lawyer and Deputy Superintendent of Program Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada in Ottawa;^[5] Adrian Lang, Associate General Counsel at BMO Financial Group in Toronto (she was formerly a partner with the law firm of Stikeman Elliott);^[6] 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. "Otto E. Lang fonds". Library and Archives Canada. 1957–1997. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
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. Andrew Lang - Profile
4. "YES appoints Timothy Lang as new President & CEO". Youth Employment Services. June 6, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
5. Elisabeth Lang - Profile
6. Adrian Lang - Profile

External links

• Otto Lang – Parliament of Canada biography