Career
During his time in office, Reid served various portfolios in the Executive Council of Alberta under the Governments of Peter Lougheed and Don Getty from 1983 to 1989. Reid ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature for the first time in the 1979 Alberta general election. He served his first term in the back benches.
A year after the election on December 20, 1983, Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Reid to his first position in the Alberta Executive Council as Solicitor General.
He held that position almost all the way through his second term. After Premier Don Getty came to power Reid was promoted to Minister of Labour.
Prior to his promotion to Cabinet Reid served as whip for the Government caucus. In 1988 his portfolio was changed to Minister of the Environment.
He ran in the 1989 Alberta general election but was defeated in a contested race by New Democratic Party candidate Jerry Doyle.
The defeat was considered an upset to Reid"s cabinet post. He did not run in any subsequent elections.