Career
Before becoming a politician, Laporte had been a student of history and Law at the University of Regina. Laporte became the New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre in the 1988 federal election, winning a riding that had been a Progressive Conservative (Personal Computer) stronghold for thirty years. In the 1993 election, he lost the seat to Reform Party candidate Allan Kerpan.
During the 2002–2003 NDP leadership race, Laporte endorsed Bill Blaikie.
Laporte now practises law for the Saskatchewan Legal Aid Commission in Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan He is also the President of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1949.