In 1973, Lauk entered politics and was elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Vancouver Centre Riding. Soon after, Lauk was appointed Minister of Economic Development. As Minister, he established priorities for the Department, approved or disapproved project proposals, provided political policy decision making in conjunction with the cabinet and was the public spokesman for the government for economic issues.
Lauk was also a member of the cabinet committee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. As a result of being a member of that committee, Lauk accompanied the Premier on a trip to Japan in April of 1974, and to the Western Premiers Conference in August, 1974. In addition, he was minister responsible for, and a member of the Board of Directors of the British Columbia Development Corporation, creation by legislation in April 1973, with a $25 million capital fund for loans and investment in industry and industrial land. Lauk was Chairman of the Board of Management of BC Research, a company that received government funds for economic and other research.
In March 1975, Lauk was appointed to the Board of Directors of BC Rail. In October 1975, he was given, as an additional portfolio, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum Resources, a position he held until an election was called in November of 1975
The series contains records pertaining to Lauk's role as MLA, Minister of Economic Development and as Minister of Mines and Petroleum Resources. These records include memos, news releases, drafts of and copies of final reports, briefings, meeting minutes, and correspondence sent from and/or received by Lauk. The series is divided into five subseries, including: Government department files; Subject files; Unfiled materials; Outgoing correspondence; and Printer reference material.