Jack Cookson
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" William Cookson (born October 29, 1928) was a provincial politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1971 to 1982 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served in the Executive Council of Alberta
as Minister of the Environment from 1979 to 1982 under the Peter Lougheed
government.
. He was defeated by incumbent Allen Patrick finishing a strong second.
Cookson ran for a second time in the 1971 Alberta general election
. He won the electoral district of Lacombe in a tight race over Social Credit candidate Ivan Stonehocker to pickup the district for the Progressive Conservatives who went on to form government that election.
Cookson and Stonehocker would face each other again in the 1975 Alberta general election
. Stonehocker's vote collapsed and Cookson won his second term easily. He would run for a third term in office in the 1979 Alberta general election
. That election saw a crowded field of candidates with Cookson facing four opponents. He won a slightly larger share of the popular vote winning an easy victory on election night.
After the election Premier Peter Lougheed
appointed Cookson to be Minister of the Environment. He held that portfolio until he retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1982.
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 1982 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served in 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...
as Minister of the Environment from 1979 to 1982 under the 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....
government.
Political career
Cookson ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1967 Alberta general electionAlberta general election, 1967
The Alberta general election of 1967 was the sixteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 23, 1967 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
. He was defeated by incumbent Allen Patrick finishing a strong second.
Cookson ran for a second time in the 1971 Alberta general election
Alberta 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 electoral district of Lacombe in a tight race over Social Credit candidate Ivan Stonehocker to pickup the district for the Progressive Conservatives who went on to form government that election.
Cookson and Stonehocker would face each other again 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....
. Stonehocker's vote collapsed and Cookson won his second term easily. He would run for a third term in office in the 1979 Alberta 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....
. That election saw a crowded field of candidates with Cookson facing four opponents. He won a slightly larger share of the popular vote winning an easy victory on election night.
After the election 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....
appointed Cookson to be Minister of the Environment. He held that portfolio until he retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1982.