“If you're in the energy business, you're in the environmental business.” – Jim Prentice Jim Prentice was a most honourable gentleman. He was principled, competent, respectful, humble, passionate and a true public servant.
“If you're in the energy business, you're in the environmental business.” – Jim Prentice
Jim Prentice was a most honourable gentleman. He was principled, competent, respectful, humble, passionate and a true public servant.
I first met Jim in the late 1990s when I was a member of the MĂ©tis Settlements Appeal Tribunal. Jim Prentice was lawyer for MSAT for several years. As our solicitor I was impressed with his knowledge and understanding of the First Nations and MĂ©tis culture and way of life. He gave sound advice, often to avoid litigation and settle disputes through negotiation and consensus whether it was on membership issues or whether it was issues with energy companies. In the one situation that I recall when an issue came before the courts, I marveled at how well reasoned and respectful he was in delivering his arguments.
Several years later we met in Saskatoon where he was campaigning for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party. At that point in time, I was a dedicated member of the Reform Party so obviously was not a supporter but nevertheless he was open to take time away from his campaigning to discuss our divergent political inclinations.
Later after he was elected to the federal parliament, I was pleased when he was appointed to cabinet and in particular as Minister of Indian Affairs. I was however disappointed when he was moved from that portfolio as I was, and remain convinced that if anyone could clean up the mess in Indian Affairs it would be someone with the understanding of native affairs together with the negotiating skills of Jim Prentice. He did well however in Industry and then was transferred to Environment where he again demonstrated his expertise and conciliatory personality. As chair of the highest level cabinet committees his competence was recognized by the prime minister.
His credibility in government and public circles made him an obvious future candidate for leadership of the PC Party. But that was not to be as he left politics and took a senior position in the banking sector, possibly sitting out for a future leadership race.
His Indian Affairs and Environment portfolios put him in a key position as a negotiator for Enbridge on the Northern Gateway Pipeline. Given time, his optimistic and conciliatory approach would likely have seen success for Gateway. But time was not on his side for he soon rose to the challenge of sorting out the turbulence left by Premier Alison Redford's resignation.
Jim Prentice was an instant hit with the PC membership winning 77% of the vote in the leadership race. As premier he soon became an instant hit with Albertans and even the majority of the Wildrose opposition when they crossed the floor to join his party. But that was part of his downfall, the floor crossing, an honest budget, an early election call and a few campaign miscues ended his political career.
But Jim took it in his stride going on to other challenges. He was not a quitter, he graciously admitted defeat, knowing that the job he had come to do in Alberta would have to fall into others' hands.
We will all miss this man who will remain a respected icon in Alberta's and Canada's history books. We all offer our heartfelt condolences to Karen and his family.
Ken Allred is a former St. Albert alderman and MLA.
