Planche ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the
1975 Alberta general election. He won a landslide majority and defeated
Liberal leader
Nicholas Taylor to hold the electoral district of
Calgary-Glenmore for the Progressive Conservatives. Planche would run for a second term in the
1979 Alberta general election. His popular vote would take a significant hit as he lost just over 10% from the 1975 election. Nick Taylor would also make big gains in his second run against Planche. Planche still held his seat with a solid majority of the vote. After the election on October 1, 1979, Premier
Peter Lougheed appointed Planche Minister of Economic Development. Planche ran for his third and final term in the
1982 Alberta general election. With his ministerial advantage he rolled up a massive majority taking nearly 80% of the popular vote. Planche retired at dissolution of the legislature in 1986. Planche died at the age of 93 on December 15, 2024, in Calgary. ==References==