Former Alberta premier Jim Prentice is remembered by past colleagues from provincial and federal politics as a principled leader who wanted the best for his province.
Prentice and three others were killed when a small plane en-route to the Springbank Airport west of Calgary crashed soon after taking off from Kelowna on Oct. 14. He was 60.
Former Macleod MP Ted Menzies said Prentice’s strong principles and humble roots often served as a reminder for all MPs about their responsibilities.
“He would often think, how is a decision like this going to impact those that are working in necessary jobs across this country that are paying the taxes?,” he said. “That’s what I always liked about Jim is he would bring it back to that. Is this fair – this decision we’re going to make – is this fair to the majority of Canadians?”
Menzies was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 the same time as Prentice. The two served together for many years before Prentice left federal politics in 2010.
Menzies credited Prentice’s level-headed approach to issues to his upbringing in the Crowsnest Pass and his time working in a coal mine in his youth.
“He would tell us about growing up, working his way through high school and university working underneath a coal tipple in the Crowsnest Pass,” he said. “For those who don’t know what a coal tipple is, there’s no dustier, darker place.”
Prentice went into private sector after leaving federal politics.
Menzies said Prentice could have continued in business instead of getting into provincial politics in 2014, but he wanted to help Alberta through a difficult economic period.
“I think he felt that he had more to offer,” he said.
Though they worked together for six years, Menzies does have one regret, that he never took the chance to go fly-fishing with Prentice. They were both avid fishermen and plied many of the same rivers and streams in southwest Alberta, but Menzies never got the opportunity to fish with Prentice.
“Shame on me for never taking the time to do that,” he said.
He said his sympathies are with Prentice’s family.
“It’s going to be difficult for Karen [Prentice’s wife] and the girls,” he said. “They hadn’t gotten to retirement yet, to the golden years when they’d be able to go and do what they wanted to do.”
Former Highwood MLA Danielle Smith said Prentice’s death is a loss for Alberta, but some of his biggest accomplishments were at the federal level.
She said Prentice made strides to redress problems faced by First Nations and trying to right historical wrongs, including the Harper government’s apology for residential schools and the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission.
She knew Prentice long before her time in politics, and first met him in 1992 and on several occasions while she was on the Calgary Herald editorial board.
During her short time as a member of the Prentice-led Progressive Conservative government she said Prentice didn’t waste any time when confronted with an issue.
Smith said she brought three issues to his attention looking for help to resolve – funding for a water pipeline for Okotoks, problems with the Disaster Recovery Program in High River and changing flood mitigation plans for High River.
Though her pipeline requests didn’t come through, she said Prentice took her concerns in High River to heart, and he didn’t waste any time doing it.
“It was amazing to watch him in action,” she said. “He came down to the riding, took a helicopter tour, made sure he understood what the alternatives would be and came back down, and said yes we have to change course.”
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the provincial government will find an appropriate occasion to remember and honour Alberta’s 16th premier.
In a statement released Friday, Notley said she shares the pain Prentice’s family is feeling at this time and her thoughts are with them at this time.
Notley said Prentice was committed to serving the province he loved.
“He worked tirelessly for all of us, in the true spirit of one who is committed to public service,” she said. “I benefited from his advice, and the Government of Alberta is continuing to pursue many of his initiatives.
“All Albertans are the better for this.”
