Fondo F 448 - Harold Martens fonds

Harold Arthur Martens was born on September 8, 1941 at Herbert, Saskatchewan to Eugene and Lydia Martens. He attended elementary school in Leonard and high school in Stewart Valley.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Martens was a rancher and farmer on the family farm in the Leinan district. He served as Councillor (1973-1975) and Reeve (1975-1979) for Saskatchewan Landing Rural Municipality No. 167. Martens was a director of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities from 1977 to 1978. He also served as an appointee to the University of Regina Senate and the Saskatchewan Federation of Agriculture.

Martens was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1982 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Morse constituency until 1995. He served in the Grant Devine Government as Associate Minister of Agriculture and Food (1989-1991). Martens also served as Minister Responsible for the Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan (1989-1991), the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation (1989-1991), the Saskatchewan Water Corporation (1989-1991) and the Souris Basin Development Authority (1989-1991).

After the Devine Government was defeated in 1991, Martens served as Opposition Deputy Leader (1994-1995) and Opposition Finance Critic (1994-1995). He also served as Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (1991-1995).

Martens did not run in the 1995 provincial general election. He returned to the Leinan district and resumed ranching full-time, and later resided in Swift Current. He was Reeve of Excelsior Rural Municipality No. 166, and was the chair of the constituency board for the Conservative Party of Canada for the Cypress Hills-Grasslands riding and a board member for the Saskatchewan Party in the Swift Current constituency.

Martens received the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1978 for his outstanding service to the community and a Saskatchewan Centennial Medal in 2005 in recognition of his community involvement in the province.

Martens married Sylvia Schroeder on August 21, 1966. They had three children: Tony, Chad and Joe.

Martens died at Swift Current on January 8, 2023.

Eric Arthur Berntson was born on May 16, 1941 at Oxbow, Saskatchewan to Arthur Berntson and Johanna Larson. He received his early education at Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan and attended high school at Halifax, Nova Scotia. He later attended the University of Calgary.

After serving eight years as a pilot with the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force, Berntson moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he worked in electronic data processing for National Cash Register. He returned to Saskatchewan around 1972 and began farming in the Carievale district. Berntson was a member of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and the Royal Canadian Legion.

Berntson was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1975 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Souris-Cannington constituency until 1990. He was Leader of the Official Opposition in the Saskatchewan Legislature from 1979 to 1982. Berntson served in the Grant Devine Government as Minister of Agriculture (1982-1983); Minister of Economic Development and Trade (1983-1985); Provincial Secretary (1983-1990); Minister of Economic Development and Tourism (1989-1990) and Deputy Premier (1982-1989). He was Minister Responsible for numerous agencies, boards and commissions including Agricultural Development Corporation (1982-1990); Saskatchewan Water Corporation (1985-1986); Souris Basin Development Authority (1986-1989); Saskatchewan Mining Development Corporation (1988-1990) and Crown Investments Corporation (1987-1990).

Berntson resigned from Cabinet on April 10, 1990 and vacated his seat in the Saskatchewan Legislature on July 19, 1990. On September 27, 1990, he was appointed to the Senate of Canada on the advice of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. Berntson served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1994 to 1997. He resigned his seat in the Senate on February 27, 2001.

Eric Berntson died at Ottawa, Ontario on September 23, 2018.

Donald Grant Devine was born in Regina, Saskatchewan on July 5, 1944 to Donald William Devine and Bette Jean Ford. He has one sister and two brothers. He was raised on the family farm near Lake Valley, Saskatchewan and attended Brownlee School.

In 1967, Devine obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan. He also earned Masters degrees in Agricultural Economics and Business Administration from the University of Alberta in 1970. After graduating, Devine worked as a marketing specialist with the Department of Agriculture in Ottawa, Ontario. In 1976, he earned a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Ohio State University and joined the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan, where he taught Agricultural Marketing and Consumer Economics.

Devine's political career began in 1978, when he ran unsuccessfully in the Saskatoon Nutana constituency. He also lost a 1980 by-election in the Estevan constituency. Devine was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Saskatchewan on November 9, 1979. He was elected 12th premier of Saskatchewan and MLA for the Estevan constituency in the April 26, 1982 general election. Devine's term as premier dated from May 8, 1982 to November 1, 1991.

Devine held various Cabinet portfolios while serving as Premier: Minister of Energy and Mines (1983); Minister of Highways and Transportation (1985); Minister of Agriculture (1985-1989) and Minister of Agriculture and Food (1989-1991). He was also Minister Responsible for numerous agencies, boards and commissions.

Devine stepped down as leader of the Conservative party on October 8, 1992 and did not seek re-election in 1995. Larry Campbell Ward (NDP) was elected MLA for the Estevan constituency.

Upon retiring from politics, Devine returned to teaching at the University of Saskatchewan. He also operated Grant Devine Farms and Consulting Services Ltd. and served on the board of directors of Agrium Inc. In January 2004 after an unsuccessful bid as the federal Conservative party candidate for the riding of Souris-Moose Mountain, Devine ran as an independent in that riding and was defeated in the 2004 federal election.

Devine currently (2009) farms near Caron, Saskatchewan.

Grant Devine married Chantal Guillaume, a teacher, in 1966. They have five children: Michelle, Monique, David, John and Camille.

Lorne Henry Hepworth was born on December 20, 1947 in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan to Henry and Eileen Hepworth. He attended rural schools and high school in Assiniboia. Hepworth attended the University of Regina from 1965 to 1967 and earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1971.

Prior to his entry into politics, Hepworth worked as a veterinarian with Hepworth-Pulfer Veterinary Services in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. He was involved with the Saskatchewan and Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations, the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce and the Weyburn Agricultural Society. Hepworth also operated a family farm near Assiniboia.

Hepworth was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1982 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Weyburn constituency until 1991. Hepworth served in the Grant Devine Government as Minister of Agriculture (1983-1985); Minister of Energy and Mines (1985-1986); Minister of Advanced Education and Manpower (1986-1987); Minister of Education (1986-1989); Minister of Public Participation (1989-1990); and Minister of Finance (1989-1991).

Hepworth's ministerial responsibilities included Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation (1983-1985); Agricultural Credit Corporation of Saskatchewan (1983-1985); Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Corporation (1985-1986); Public Service Commission (1986-1989); Teacher's Superannuation Commission (1986-1989); Advanced Technical Training Centre of Saskatchewan Corporation (1986-1989); Provincial Library (1987); Saskatchewan Archives Board (1987); Treasury Board (1989-1991); Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation (1989-1990); Saskatchewan Pension Plan (1989-1991); Public Service Superannuation Board (1989-1991); Saskatchewan Development Fund (1989-1991); Municipal Financing Corporation (1989-1991); Crown Investments Corporation (1990); Future Corporation (1990-1991); and SaskEnergy (1991).

After losing his seat in the 1991 provincial general election to Ronald Joseph Wormsbecker (NDP), Hepworth became Vice-President of the Crop Protection Institute of Canada (1992-1993) and held executive positions with the Canadian Agra group of companies (1993-1997).

Hepworth currently (2006) resides in Toronto, Ontario, where he is President of CropLife Canada, a trade association that represents manufacturers, developers and distributors of pest control products and plant biotechnology (1997-2006).

Hepworth married Fern Presber on December 23, 1970. They have two children: Graeme and Alana.

Paul John Schoenhals was born on November 5, 1941 in Clinton, Ontario to Stewart John Schoenhals and Phyllis Lillian Elliott. He received his primary education in Ontario and attended Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Schoenhals earned a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1964 and a postgraduate diploma in 1970.

Prior to his entry into provincial politics, Schoenhals worked as a high school teacher in Saskatoon and was involved with the Saskatoon Hilltops Football Club as director and head coach.
Schoenhals was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1982 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Saskatoon Sutherland constituency until 1986. He served in the Grant Devine Government as Minister of Urban Affairs (1982-1983); Minister of Culture and Youth (1982-1983); Minister of Culture and Recreation (1983); Minister of Energy and Mines (1983-1985); Minister of Telephones (1985-1986); Minister of Science and Technology (1985-1986); Minister of Supply and Services (1985-1986) and Minister of Tourism and Small Business (1985-1986).

Schoenhals was Minister Responsible for Local Government Board (1982-1983); Municipal Water Assistance Board (1982-1983); Provincial Planning Appeals Board (1982-1983); Meewasin Valley Authority (1982-1983); Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts (1982-1983); Saskatchewan Arts Board (1982-1983); Western Development Museum (1982-1983); Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Corporation (1983-1985); Saskatchewan Water Supply Board (1983-1984); Legislative Review Committee (1983-1985); Saskatchewan Water Corporation (1984-1985); Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (1985-1986); Employment Development Agency (1985-1986); Saskatchewan Government Printing (1985-1986) and Saskatchewan Property Management Corporation (1986).

After losing his seat in the 1986 general election to E. Mark Koenker (NDP), Schoenhals became president of Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS).

Schoenhals currently (2006) resides in Calgary, Alberta and is President and Chief Executive Officer of Enform, a company that provides training programs and safety initiatives for workers in the petroleum industry.

Schoenhals married Dorenda Stirton, a Canadian ladies' curling champion, on June 21, 1969. They have three children: Susan, Ryan and Karyn.

Herbert Junior Swan was born on January 10, 1927 in Demaine, Saskatchewan to Herbert and Freida Swan. He received his primary and secondary education in Demaine, completed Grade 12 at the Saskatoon Technical Institute, and attended Success Business College.

Prior to entering provincial politics, Swan operated a grain seed business and farmed in the Beechy area. Swan served on the Outlook School Division Board, was president of the Saskatchewan School Trustees' Association (1976-1978), and was a director of the Canadian School Trustees' Association.

Swan was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1978 and served as a Progressive Conservative MLA for the Rosetown-Elrose constituency until 1991. From 1978 to 1982, he was Opposition Critic for Municipal Affairs, Social Services, and Agriculture. Swan served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1982 to1986 and was international president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (1984-1985). He served in the Grant Devine Cabinet as Minister of the Environment (1986-1987) and Minister of the Environment and Public Safety (1987-1989).

From 1986 to 1989, Swan was Minister Responsible for the Water Appeal Board; Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Water Corporation; Chairman of the Regulations Review Committee; and member of the Municipal Financing Corporation.

Swan's cabinet appointments were discontinued on October 3, 1989 when Devine reorganized his Cabinet. Swan retired from political life in 1991. Bernhard Wiens (NDP) became the MLA for the Rosetown-Elrose constituency in October 1991.

Swan married Anita Syroishka on July 1, 1949. They had four children: Karen, Bonnie, Kirk and Heather. He died in Saskatoon on May 28, 2013.