Wherever you sit on the political spectrum, the loss of former premier Jim Prentice this past Thursday was a tragedy.
Prentice, 60, and three other men including the pilot, died when their airplane crashed shortly after taking off from the Kelowna International Airport.
Virtually everyone who has spoken about Prentice in the wake of that sad event has talked about what an honourable man he was. He had a reputation for doing his very best to keep the promises he made. That doesn't always happen in the political realm.
As Coun. Wade Bearchell said elsewhere in this edition of the Albertan, Prentice promised to stump for him during the 2015 election and he honoured that promise by attending a campaign rally in Olds.
He had an impressive career in politics.
A member of the federal Conservative Party, Prentice held several cabinet posts in the government of former prime minister Stephen Harper.
Those portfolios included Industry, Environment, Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
When in federal cabinet, Prentice was willing to work cooperatively with those on the other side of House – a quality not found in all of his colleagues around that table.
After federal politics, he worked for the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce as senior executive vice-president.
He became leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party in the wake of scandals that led to the resignation of former premier Alison Redford.
Prentice led the province as premier from Sept. 6, 2014 until the party was defeated in the May 5, 2015 election, at which time he resigned as premier and as MLA.
Our hearts are with Prentice's wife Karen and all the members of his family, as well as all his friends and acquaintances as they deal with this sad loss. We extend the same sympathy to relatives and friends of all the others who passed away in that accident.
He was willing to work cooperatively with those on the other side of House – a quality not found in all of his colleagues around that table.
