Series F 419-12 - Minister Responsible for Crown Investments Corporation (Crown Management Board) series

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.

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.