see also Otto Lang (film producer) and Otto Lang (actor)

Otto Emil Lang PC OC KC (born 14 May 1932) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician.

Otto Lang
Minister of Transport
In office
26 September 1975 – 3 June 1979
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byJean Marchand
Succeeded byDon Mazankowski
Minister of Communications
Acting
25 October 1975 – 4 December 1975
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byPierre Juneau
Succeeded byJeanne Sauvé
Minister of Justice
Attorney General of Canada
Acting
3 August 1978 – 8 August 1978
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byRon Basford
Succeeded byMarc Lalonde
In office
28 January 1972 – 25 September 1975
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byJohn Turner
Succeeded byRon Basford
Minister of Manpower and Immigration
In office
24 September 1970 – 27 January 1972
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Preceded byAllan MacEachen
Succeeded byBryce Mackasey
Minister without portfolio
In office
6 July 1968 – 23 September 1970
Prime MinisterPierre Trudeau
Member of Parliament
for Saskatoon—Humboldt
In office
25 June 1968 – 21 May 1979
Preceded byRiding created
Succeeded byRobert Ogle
Personal details
Born
Otto Emil Lang

(1932-05-14) 14 May 1932 (age 92)
Handel, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political partyLiberal
Spouse(s)
Adrian Merchant
(m. 1963; div. 1988)

(date missing)
Children7, including Amanda, Timothy
Education
Profession
  • Lawyer
  • dean

Life and career

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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

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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

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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

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There is an Otto E. Lang fonds at Library and Archives Canada.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Otto E. Lang fonds". Library and Archives Canada. 1957–1997. Retrieved 24 August 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. ^ Otto Lang [textual record]
  4. ^ Andrew Lang - Profile[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "YES appoints Timothy Lang as new President & CEO". Youth Employment Services. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  6. ^ Timothy Lang - Profile
  7. ^ Gregory Lang - Profile
  8. ^ Superintendent of Bankruptcy – Biography of Elisabeth Lang
  9. ^ Elisabeth Lang - Profile[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Adrian Lang - Profile
  11. ^ "Otto E. Lang fonds, Library and Archives Canada". 25 November 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Manpower and Immigration
1970–1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Justice
1972–1975
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Transport
1975–1979
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Communications
1975
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Justice
1978
Succeeded by