Hyndman was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He worked as a lawyer until 1967 when he ran for office and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. From 1967 through 1986, when he rejoined the law firm of Field Atkinson Perraton, Hyndman served as the Minister of Education, Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs, Government House Leader, and Provincial Treasurer. Hyndman first ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in the 1967 Alberta general election. He won a tight race in the electoral district of Edmonton West to pick it up for the Progressive Conservatives. He was one of six members of his party elected that year who form the official opposition. Due to redistribution in the 1971 general election, the electoral district of Edmonton West was abolished. Hyndman ran for re-election in the new electoral district of Edmonton-Glenora. He was re-elected to the legislature with a sizable majority. The Progressive Conservatives under the leadership of Peter Lougheed formed government. Hyndman was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta shortly after the election as Minister of Education. Running for re-election as a cabinet minister in the 1975 general election, Hyndman slightly increased his popular vote. He won his district with a landslide as the opposition vote collapsed. Hyndman defeated future Member of the Legislative AssemblyAlex McEachern and two other candidates. Immediately following the election Hyndman was shuffled to become the Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs. He ran for his fourth term in office in the 1979 general election. Hyndman's popular vote waned slightly from the previous election. There was no significant strength in the opposition vote. He still won his district with a landslide majority. Lougheed appointed Hyndman as the new Provincial Treasurer following the election. Hyndman's fifth election would see him reclaim the votes he lost in 1979. He won his final term in office in the 1982 general election easily defeating three other candidates. Hyndman held the Provincial Treasurer portfolio after Don Getty became Premier in 1985. Hyndman retired from the legislature at dissolution in 1986.
Late life
After leaving provincial politics in 1986 Hyndman joined the board of directors for TransAlta Utilities. Hyndman also resumed his work as a lawyer with the firm now known as Field Law. He became chancellor of the University of Alberta. He was awarded an honorary degree by the University on June 12, 2000. Hyndman died November 24, 2013 in Edmonton at the age of 78, after an illness.
Commissions
Hyndman chaired the:
Premier's Commission on Future Health Care for Albertans
