Career
Planche ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1975 Alberta general election. 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.