Premier Jim Prentice to speak Thursday, February 26 on Responding to the Challenge of Low Oil Prices

The price of oil has dropped to surprising lows in recent weeks requiring those in the oil and gas industry, and all those affected by it, to take stock of possible consequences.  The Province of Alberta will be impacted by a reduction in revenue to its coffers.  Who better to address us and to shed light on the challenges than our own Premier, the Honourable Jim Prentice?

During his recent campaign to lead the Alberta PC Party and to become Premier, Mr. Prentice saw a need to restore fiscal prudence and ethical conduct within the provincial government. He has met with – and listened to – literally thousands of Albertans. He was sworn in as Alberta's 16th Premier on September 15, 2014 and from his first days in office, his government has taken actions that reflect Albertans’ priorities, including investing in the schools, seniors’ facilities and other infrastructure our growing province needs, putting new accountability measures in place, and protecting property rights.

 He is now leading Alberta through its greatest fiscal challenge in a generation and taking steps to get our province off the revenue roller coaster and put it on sound financial footing for long-term stability and prosperity.

He was born on July 20, 1956, in South Porcupine, Ontario. When he was 13, his family moved to Grande Cache, then a new mining town in Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Jim put himself through university working "under the bins" in the coal mines of the Crowsnest Pass. He received a bachelor of commerce from the University of Alberta and a bachelor of laws from Dalhousie University. He was designated as a Queen's Counsel in 1992 and a member of the Privy Council in 2006.

In 2004, Mr. Prentice was elected the Member of Parliament for Calgary North Centre and was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. During his time in Ottawa, Jim held some of the most challenging yet rewarding cabinet positions in a range of portfolios including Industry, Environment, and Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He also served as chair of the Operations Committee — a role Prime Minister Stephen Harper described as "the Chief Operating Officer of the Government of Canada."

After leaving federal politics, Jim built important relationships as Vice-Chair and as the Senior Executive Vice-President of CIBC. He led the bank in the critical areas of energy infrastructure, responsible resource development and the Asian Pacific Rim, gaining respect internationally as a North American authority on the world energy market.

Mr. Prentice lives in Calgary with his wife of 31 years, Karen Anne Prentice. They have three daughters and recently celebrated the birth of their second grandchild.

The Canadian Club of Calgary is honoured to have Premier Prentice with us to share the realities that face Albertans and to learn of the steps he and his government plan to take to move us forward.  Join us for a very special MEMBERS ONLY event.