Michael Maccagno

Michael "Rosa" Maccagno (July 15, 1914 – November 25, 2000) was a politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1955 to 1968, and leader of the Alberta Liberal Party from 1964 to 1968.

Michael Maccagno
Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta
In office February 13, 1964 – April 11, 1967
Preceded by	5 year vacancy, (last Grant MacEwan)
Succeeded by	Peter Lougheed
Leader of the Alberta Liberal Party
In office 1964–1966
Preceded by	Dave Hunter
Succeeded by	Adrian Berry
In office 1966–1968
Preceded by	Adrian Berry
Succeeded by	John T. Lowery
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
In office June 29, 1955 – May 27, 1968
Preceded by	Harry Lobay
Succeeded by	Damase Bouvier
Constituency	Lac La Biche
Personal details
Born	July 15, 1914 Piozzo, Piedmont, Italy
Died	November 25, 2000 (aged 86) Lac La Biche, Alberta
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Valentine Lebas
Occupation	businessman, politician

Political career

Mr. Maccagno ran for a seat to the Alberta legislature in the 1955 provincial election as a candidate for the Alberta Liberals in the electoral district of Lac La Biche. He defeated incumbent Social Credit MLA Harry Lobay by less than 100 votes.[1] When he was re-elected in 1959, he was the only Liberal with a seat in the legislature.

In 1964, when Liberal leader Dave Hunter resigned after failing twice to win a seat in the legislature, Maccagno became interim leader of the Alberta Liberals as well as Leader of the Official Opposition. He became the first Italian Canadian to become head of a major political party in Canada.[2] In 1966 Calgary Alderman Adrian Berry was chosen as Liberal leader, but resigned shortly after, leaving Maccagno to resume the leadership.

Mr. Maccagno lead the Liberals into the 1967 general election. The party lost over 8% of its popular vote from the last election, but kept all three seats it held on dissolution. The Liberals became the third party after Peter Lougheed's Progressive Conservatives.

Mr. Maccagno resigned his seat in the Alberta legislature on May 27, 1968 to run in that year's federal election. He ran for the federal Liberals in the electoral district of Athabasca and lost to Progressive Conservative candidate Paul Yewchuk by about 1,200 votes.[3] After the election he was appointed to the National Parole Board.[4]

References

1. "Lac La Biche results 1955". Alberta Heritage Community Foundation. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
2. Paul R. Magocsi (1999). Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples. University of Toronto Press. p. 820. ISBN 0-8020-2938-8.
3. "Athabasca results". Parliament of Canada. June 25, 1968. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
4. "Archival Photos". National Parole Board. Retrieved December 13, 2009.

External links

• Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Listing