Nicholas Taylor facts for kids

Nicholas William "Nick" Taylor (born November 17, 1927 – died October 3, 2020) was an important person in Alberta, Canada. He was a geologist, a businessman, and a politician.

Early Life and Career

Nicholas William Taylor was born on November 17, 1927, in Bow Island, Alberta. He was the oldest of five children. Nick went to high school in Medicine Hat.

He then studied geology and mining engineering at the University of Alberta. He finished his studies in 1949. That same year, Nick married Margaret Davies. They had nine children together.

In the 1950s, Nick worked as a geologist in Alberta's oil industry. A geologist studies the Earth's rocks and helps find oil. In 1960, he started his own company called Lochiel Exploration Ltd. His company became very successful and even worked in other countries. However, in 1986, the oil market faced problems, and his company had to close.

Political Journey

Nick Taylor started his political journey by running in federal elections. These are elections for Canada's national government. He ran in 1968 and 1972 as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada. He tried to become a Member of Parliament for Calgary Centre. He did not win either time.

Leading the Alberta Liberals

From 1974 to 1988, Nick Taylor was the leader of the Alberta Liberal Party. This party works at the provincial level in Alberta. When he became leader, the party was not very strong. The last Liberal in the Alberta Legislative Assembly (Alberta's parliament) had left the party in 1969.

Nick Taylor was wealthy from his oil business. He gave a lot of his own money to the party. This helped keep the Alberta Liberal Party going. Some people estimated he donated over $100,000.

In 1976, the Alberta Liberal Party separated from the national Liberal Party of Canada. This happened because the federal party did not give money to the Alberta Liberals for an election. Instead, the federal party supported another group.

Making a Comeback

Nick Taylor worked hard to rebuild the party. The federal Liberal government was not popular in Alberta at the time. They had a program called the National Energy Program. This program caused some problems for Alberta's oil industry.

Despite this, the Alberta Liberals started to do better. In the 1986 Alberta general election, they won four seats. This was a big step forward. Nick Taylor himself won a seat in the area of Westlock-Sturgeon. He won again in 1989. In 1993, he won another election in the Redwater area.

A Lively Politician

While in the Alberta Legislature, Nick Taylor was known for his humor. He often joked and debated with other politicians. In 1991, he was even asked to leave the Legislature for a day. This happened after he used strong words during a discussion. He apologized the next day.

His funny comments sometimes made other politicians laugh. Two Premiers (leaders of the provincial government) even told their team not to laugh when Nick Taylor spoke. This was because he often criticized the government.

Becoming a Senator

In 1996, Nick Taylor was chosen to be a Senator. Senators are appointed to Canada's upper house of parliament. He was chosen by the Prime Minister at the time, Jean Chrétien. He served as a Senator until 2002.

Some people criticized his appointment. They said it was "patronage." This means he was chosen because of his loyalty to the Liberal Party, not just his skills. Stephen Harper, who later became Prime Minister, also criticized the choice. He said Nick Taylor's main reason for being a Senator was his loyalty to the Liberal Party.

While in the Senate, Nick Taylor faced some criticism. A group called Democracy Watch said he had a "conflict of interest." This means he might have had a personal gain from a decision he made as a Senator.

Later Life

Nick Taylor retired from politics in 2002. This was when he reached the age of 75, which is the mandatory retirement age for Senators.

In 2019, he spoke to a Senate committee. He supported a new law about how energy projects are reviewed.

Nick Taylor passed away in Calgary on October 3, 2020. He was 92 years old.