He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1944 to 1971 sitting with the Social Credit caucus in government.
During his time in office he served as a cabinet minister in the government of Ernest Manning from 1962 to 1968.. Ira McLaughlin was born in Prince Edward Island on January 5, 1891.
At the age of 19 in 1910 he moved to Saskatchewan and then later settled in the town of Bezanson in the Grande Prairie area in 1928.
He won the electoral district of Grande Prairie with a solid majority to pick it up for his party.
He held his vote to win the district while the two opposition candidates saw their support fall.