As a result of his efforts, Manitoba became the first province in Canada to introduce official protocols to deal with instances of child sex abuse.

He later worked as campaign manager for high-profile Liberal incumbent Lloyd Axworthy in the 1988 federal election in Winnipeg South Centre.

[5] Alcock won the Liberal nomination for Winnipeg South in early 1993, defeating rival candidate Linda Asper by only five votes on the third ballot of what proved to be a divisive contest.

In 1998, he brought forward a private member's bill to overturn Louis Riel's conviction for high treason and recognize him as a Father of Confederation.

[16] Alcock increased his public profile in 2003, after chairing a committee which forced privacy commissioner George Radwanski to resign from office after revelations of lax spending habits.

[19] As president of the Treasury Board, Alcock was responsible for overseeing the Canadian civil service and the spending details of government agencies.

He also played a leading role in coordinating the Martin government's response to the federal sponsorship scandal, in which some bureaucrats and advertising agents in Quebec with ties to the Liberal Party had misappropriated public monies.

[20] Alcock announced a new appointment process for Crown corporation executives in 2004,[21] and the following year he issued a new policy of management control for government agencies.

He argued that his reforms would reduce delays for patent drug approval and avoid the duplication of existing foreign research without compromising safety standards.

[27] In early 2005, Alcock publicly criticized his government's opposition to the legalization of marijuana, saying, "If we actually wanted to break the back of organized crime, we would be better off to control it.

"[28] Alcock unexpectedly lost his seat in the 2006 federal election, losing to Conservative challenger Rod Bruinooge by just 111 votes in Winnipeg South.

[29] One of Alcock's final acts in office was to approve a payment of up to $40,000 to assist Jean Pelletier with legal fees in a court challenge against the Gomery Commission.