The death of former Alberta premier Jim Prentice, 60, in a plane crash last week was a huge shock that continues to reverberate across private, political and public circles.
His death cut short the life of a man who had only recently returned to private life after dedicating more than a decade of his life to public service federally and provincially.
Prentice’s grieving family – wife Karen and three adult daughters – has been overwhelmed with condolences and tributes to him from across the country. The tributes have painted a more complete legacy of Prentice, a man who many Albertans remembered most for being the last PC premier in a 44-year dynasty that was stopped by Rachel Notley’s NDP government last year. What emerged from the many tributes to Prentice is a man who cared enough about his province to come out of federal political retirement to throw his hat into the Alberta political ring when PC leadership was found wanting.
Some tributes have emphasized his success in several difficult federal cabinet portfolios. Prentice was credited with gaining the trust of many First Nations communities, for championing the cause of apologizing to Chinese Canadians for the humiliating head tax, for expanding the land mass of Canada’s national parks and establishing a key partnership with industry to improve grizzly bear habitat, just to name a few.
Prentice did not achieve all that he set out to do, but part of his legacy is the unfinished business he started that could be stepping stones for those who follow.
When he met with the Gazette editorial board in July of 2014 while in the Alberta PC leadership race, Prentice said he returned to political life because “I am passionate about the kind of province my grandchildren are going to inherit.”
He outlined his basic leadership style was collaborative and that he set out to build partnerships to achieve goals. Prentice believed that any climate change efforts be grounded in good science and be driven by markets and technology. Prentice said he believed the province needed to drive any climate change efforts without damaging Alberta’s competitiveness.
Prentice noted Alberta was behind in its infrastructure, and estimated it would take five years to catch up.
He also emphasized that Alberta needs to get its energy to international markets and Prentice noted the importance of West Coast pipeline access. He believed in the importance of striking partnerships with British Columbia and First Nations on the coast of B.C. to make that initiative happen.
Prentice identified problems with a health care system that he said was too centralized, and needed more regional controls. He said that he thought the system could be improved by focusing on outcomes.
As PC candidates throw their hats into the ring for the same job that Prentice once had, it may be worth revisiting some of his passion, visions, and his effort on collaboration and partnership. Regardless of who leads the province there is a need for someone who is passionate about the future we leave to our grandchildren. There is a need for collaboration and partnership as we focus on some of the very issues Prentice referenced two years ago.
