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Jack Horner, a former Alberta member of Parliament who started out a cowboy Conservative and ended his political career in Pierre Trudeau's Liberal cabinet, has died. He was 77.
Mr. Horner, born in Blaine Lake, Sask., was first elected to the House of Commons in 1958. He earned a reputation as a spokesman for western farmers and was dubbed one of the "Diefenbaker cowboys."
He ran for the Progressive Conservative leadership in 1976 but lost to Joe Clark. In 1977, he bolted from the Tories, saying Mr. Clark had reneged on a promise to protect his Crowfoot riding in the next election.
The next day, Mr. Trudeau named Mr. Horner minister without portfolio. He later became minister of industry, trade and commerce, but was defeated in the 1979 election.
He was appointed to the board of the Canadian National Railway Co. and from 1982 to 1984 served as chairman. He then worked as administrator of the Prairie Grain Agency until 1988. Canadian Press