James L. Foster
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" L. Foster was a provincial level politician from Alberta
, Canada
. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
from 1971 to 1979 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served a couple different portfolio's as a cabinet minister in the Peter Lougheed
government.
in the electoral district of Red Deer. He finished a close second place out of four candidates but was defeated by incumbent Social Credit MLA William Ure
.
Ure ran for re-election in the new Innisfail
electoral district due to redistribution for the 1971 Alberta general election
. Foster ran in a four way race for the open seat and improved his popular vote slightly, while Social Credit candidate Fulton Rollings saw his party's popular vote collapse. He won his first term in the Alberta legislature defeating Rollings by just over 1,200 votes to pickup the electoral district of the Progressive Conservative party.
The win helped the Progressive Conservatives form government that year. After the election Foster was appointed by Premier Peter Lougheed
appointed Foster to the Executive Council of Alberta
to serve in his first cabinet as the first Minister of Advanced Education after he split the Education portfolio in two. Foster ran for re-election in the 1975 Alberta general election
with ministerial advantage. He won his second term in office defeating three other candidates and significantly increasing his popular vote to be returned in a landslide.
After the election Lougheed shuffled his cabinet and Foster was appointed as the Attorney General for the province. He held that portfolio until he retired from office at dissolution of the assembly in 1979.
in 1991. He served in the district of Red Deer until 2006 when he elected supernumerary status. He was replaced by his former law partner Kirk Sisson.
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 1979 sitting with the governing Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served a couple different portfolio's as a cabinet minister in 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
Foster 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....
in the electoral district of Red Deer. He finished a close second place out of four candidates but was defeated by incumbent Social Credit MLA William Ure
William Ure
William Kenneth Ure was a provincial level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1959 to 1971 sitting with the governing Social Credit caucus....
.
Ure ran for re-election in the new Innisfail
Innisfail (provincial electoral district)
Innisfail is a former Alberta provincial electoral district that existed from 1905 to 1993.-1905 general election:-External links:*...
electoral district due to redistribution for 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....
. Foster ran in a four way race for the open seat and improved his popular vote slightly, while Social Credit candidate Fulton Rollings saw his party's popular vote collapse. He won his first term in the Alberta legislature defeating Rollings by just over 1,200 votes to pickup the electoral district of the Progressive Conservative party.
The win helped the Progressive Conservatives form government that year. After the election Foster was appointed by 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 Foster to 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...
to serve in his first cabinet as the first Minister of Advanced Education after he split the Education portfolio in two. Foster ran for re-election 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....
with ministerial advantage. He won his second term in office defeating three other candidates and significantly increasing his popular vote to be returned in a landslide.
After the election Lougheed shuffled his cabinet and Foster was appointed as the Attorney General for the province. He held that portfolio until he retired from office at dissolution of the assembly in 1979.
Judicial career
Foster was appointed a Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench of AlbertaCourt of Queen's Bench of Alberta
The Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta is the superior court of the Canadian province of Alberta....
in 1991. He served in the district of Red Deer until 2006 when he elected supernumerary status. He was replaced by his former law partner Kirk Sisson.