Former Alberta premier dies in hospital
Posted September 13, 2012 8:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (NEWS1130) – Peter Lougheed, the premier who forged Alberta into an economic powerhouse, was gravely ill Tuesday in the Calgary hospital that bears his name.
Mr. Lougheed, 84, who was Alberta’s premier from 1971 until 1985, appeared most recently in public on June 6, when he was named Canada’s greatest premier of the past 40 years in a ceremony in Calgary.
In his last public speech Lougheed told the crowd he was a Canadian first and an Alberta second. He says of all his accomplishments one thing stood out in his mind.
“Clearly the constitution, nothing really is as important as that for a country like ours in Canada, and to put together a constitution, to have an agreement that we brought.”
Lougheed, who led Alberta from 1971 to 1985, is credited with transforming the province into an economic powerhouse and became famous for his epic fights with Ottawa over control of Alberta’s oil wealth.
His successor, Don Getty, confirmed Mr. Lougheed is suffering from heart problems and he has reportedly said Mr. Lougheed is dying.
The Calgary lawyer toppled the long-governing Social Credit in 1971 and would lead the Progressive Conservatives until 1985, building a dynasty that has been in power for more than 40 years.
He thrust Alberta onto the national station as he transformed the province into an economic powerhouse and battled the federal government over control of oil wealth.
He was immensely popular with voters who gave the Tories ever-larger majorities as they reshaped Alberta into a force in Canadian politics.
Pete McCormick of the University of Lethbridge says Peter Lougheed was a key figure who stood up for provincial rights in the 1970’s.
He says Lougheed was never afraid to stand up to federal politicians on constitutional matters.
“He was the poster child for a particular very important period in our history that really mattered to me, I really felt I was a part of it. I think he certainly was one of the greatest premier’s we’ve ever had.”
McCormick says Lougheed is someone he will truly miss.
