Former Saskatchewan NDP agriculture minister Gordon MacMurchy died April 20.
He was 78.
MacMurchy, a farmer born in Semans, Sask., was first elected in the Last Mountain constituency north of Regina in 1971, joining Allan Blakeney’s cabinet immediately.
He served as education minister and continuing education minister until November 1975. He added the municipal affairs portfolio earlier that year after being re-elected, and held it until June 1979 when he was appointed to the agriculture ministry. He had been elected a third time in 1978.
Clay Serby, Saskatchewan’s deputy premier, described MacMurchy as a friend and mentor who was responsible for convincing him to seek office.
“What I really admired about Gordon’s time in the legislature was his work crossed all political boundaries. He worked hard for all people in the province and was especially admired by rural people.”
