13 Facts About Bud Olson

Bud Olson served as the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Alberta from 1996 to 2000.

Bud Olson served as a Member of Parliament, Senator, Minister of Agriculture, and Minister of Economic and Regional Development.

Bud Olson was a farmer and rancher, and president and operating officer of Farmer's Stockmen's Supplies in Medicine Hat and Lethbridge, Alberta.

Bud Olson was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada in the 1957 election as a Social Credit Member of Parliament from Medicine Hat.

Bud Olson was defeated in the Diefenbaker Progressive Conservatives' sweep of 1958, but re-elected in 1962,1963, and 1965.

Bud Olson supported Pierre Trudeau's successful candidacy for the Liberal leadership in 1968, narrowly won re-election as an MP in 1968 and became minister of agriculture in the first Trudeau government.

Bud Olson served in that position until he was heavily defeated by PC challenger Bert Hargrave in the 1972 general election.

Bud Olson was one of only three Liberal MPs elected from Alberta in 1968; all were defeated in 1972.

Bud Olson sought a rematch against Hargrave in 1974, but lost by a margin almost as large as he had in 1972.

Bud Olson served as leader of the opposition in the Senate in 1979, and returned to Cabinet when the Trudeau Liberals returned to power in 1980.

Bud Olson served as Minister of Economic and Regional Development from 1980 to 1984, as well as Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Bud Olson was the minister responsible for the Northern Pipeline Agency from 1980 to 1984, and the government leader in the Senate from 1982 to 1984.

Bud Olson resigned from the Senate when he was appointed Alberta's 14th Lieutenant-Governor in April 1996.