Rona Ambrose, Interim Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and Leader of the Official Opposition, issued the following statement on the passing of Jim Prentice

October 14, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“JP and I are shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend Jim. Our heart goes out to Karen, the girls and his two beautiful grandchildren. All of us in the Conservative family are ‎devastated today. It is a huge loss to the country. He was a well-respected political leader and a business leader ‎but we know he was most proud to be a father and grandfather.

“Jim was a leader in our movement, a valued colleague in Cabinet, and a close and cherished friend of so many, not just in our party, but right across the political spectrum.

“His accomplishments in public life were the culmination of a distinguished career that began in law and business.

“First elected to Parliament in 2004, Jim subsequently earned the confidence of his constituents in Calgary Centre-North again in 2006 and 2008.

“He served with great distinction as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Minister of Industry, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of the Environment in our previous Conservative Government.

“Dedicated to public service, Jim returned to political life in 2014, serving as Alberta’s 16th Premier until 2015.

“As a Member of Parliament, Minister, and as Premier of Alberta, Jim was a tireless advocate for Calgary and Alberta and a pillar of Canada’s Conservative movement. He will be greatly missed.”