He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1966 to 1981, and served as a cabinet minister in the governments of Walter Weir and Sterling Lyon.
Despite his youth and relative inexperience, Premier Walter Weir appointed him to cabinet on November 7, 1967, as Minister of Mines and Natural Resources.
[1] As education minister, Craik passed legislation allowing aboriginal Canadians to vote (and be elected to) local school boards.
He credited a private member's bill from New Democratic Party MLA Sidney Green as the inspiration for this legislation.
[1] The Tories returned to power under Sterling Lyon in the 1977 election, and Craik was re-elected[1] over NDP candidate Doreen Dodick by almost 4,000 votes.
He held these positions until January 16, 1981, and also served as Chairman of the Treasury Board from October 20, 1978, to November 23, 1979, and Minister of Energy and Mines with responsibility for Manitoba Forestry Resources Limited.