Jack Horner (politician) facts for kids

John Henry "Jack" Horner PC (July 20, 1927 – November 18, 2004) was a Canadian rancher and politician. He also served as a Cabinet minister.

Early Life and Ranching Career

Jack Horner was born in Saskatchewan in 1927. He was the fifth of nine children. His father, Ralph Horner, was also involved in politics. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1933.

When Jack was 18, he moved to Alberta to manage a ranch. In 1947, he bought his own ranch. This background as a rancher would later shape his political views.

Joining Canadian Politics

Jack Horner first became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons of Canada in 1958. He was elected from the area called Acadia in central Alberta. He belonged to the Progressive Conservative Party. In that election, his party won a very large number of seats.

Horner was a strong supporter of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker. It was quite a family affair in Parliament! His older brother, Hugh Horner, and his cousin, Albert Horner, were also elected as Conservative MPs. With his father, Ralph, still a Senator, four members of the Horner family were serving in Parliament at the same time. Later, another brother, Norval Horner, was also elected in 1972.

When his riding (electoral district) of Acadia was changed in 1968, Horner ran and won in the new riding of Crowfoot.

Jack Horner's Political Views

Horner was known for being a strong voice for farmers. He believed in free enterprise, which means businesses should operate with little government control. He was also against socialism, where the government controls many parts of the economy.

He often spoke out against things he thought would harm farmers. He also believed in strict rules for things like unemployment insurance and was against workers going on strike in important services.

Changing Political Parties

Jack Horner was a loyal supporter of John Diefenbaker. He even had some disagreements with later leaders of his party, like Robert Stanfield. He ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party in 1976 but did not win.

On April 20, 1977, Jack Horner made a big decision. He decided to leave the Progressive Conservative Party and join the Liberal Party. This is called "crossing the floor" in politics. It was a surprising move because the Liberal Party was not very popular in Alberta at the time.

The very next day, he became a minister in Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's Cabinet. He was first a Minister Without Portfolio, meaning he had no specific department. Then, in September 1977, he became the Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce.

His former leader, John Diefenbaker, famously said about Horner's move, "the sheriff has joined the rustlers." This meant he felt Horner had switched sides to the "bad guys."

Impact of Switching Parties

Horner's decision to join the Liberals was very unpopular in his home area of Crowfoot. This area was known for being very conservative. Most people there had never been represented by a Liberal MP.

Many people thought Horner switched parties because he wanted to keep his job as an MP. His riding was being changed, and he would have had to compete against another strong Conservative candidate. Joining the Liberals meant he could stay in Cabinet and have a better chance of getting future appointments.

Later Life and Career

As expected, Jack Horner lost his seat in the 1979 federal election. His support dropped a lot, and he finished far behind the Conservative candidate, Arnold Malone. He tried to win back his seat in the 1980 election but lost again.

After leaving Parliament, the Liberal government appointed him to the board of Canadian National Railways. He served as chairman from 1982 to 1984. From 1984 to 1988, he worked for the Western Grain Transportation Agency.

Jack Horner passed away in a Calgary hospital on November 18, 2004. He was survived by his wife, Leola, and his two sons, Brent and Craig.