Jim’s distinguished career in public serve and politics spanned almost twenty years. First elected to the Alberta Legislature as MLA for Medicine Hat in 1975, he served five consecutive terms (1975 to 1993), fourteen years of which he served as Minister of the Crown in roles ranging from Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs to Attorney General and Deputy Premier. In addition to his Cabinet responsibilities, Jim chaired the Cabinet Task Force on International Trade Negotiations. After leaving politics, he was the chief negotiator for Alberta on the Canadian Agreement on International Trade. Jim has since served as Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge and in 2006, was appointed to the Alberta Order of Excellence, and the Order of Canada. As a member of the Order of Canada he has presided over Citizenship ceremonies in S.E. Alberta.
