Career
Johnston ran for a seat in the Alberta Legislature in the 1975 Alberta general election as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party in the Lethbridge East electoral district. After the election, Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Johnston to the cabinet as Minister of Municipal Affairs. After winning his second term Lougheed moved him to be the new Minister of Intergovernmental Relations.
He stood for a third term in office in the 1982 Alberta general election.
He was then moved to his third portfolio as the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. Johnston ran for his fourth term in the 1986 Alberta general election, losing almost half of his popular vote from the previous general election but still taking the district comfortably.
After the election, Johnston was appointed to his most valuable portfolio yet as the Minister of Finance, holding that post until Ralph Klein became Premier in 1992. He stood for office for one more term, in the 1989 Alberta general election.
He was returned to office, his popular vote rebounding slightly from 1986.
The two opposition candidates saw marginal increased support. He retired at dissolution of the Assembly in 1989. Johnston died on June 25, 2003 in Paris, France.
