This is a great loss to Canada. Premier Lougheed was a great man and role model to many throughout our country. He was a visionary who believed that by working together, all Canadians could succeed. His tireless commitment to ensuring that Albertans would be the primary beneficiaries of the development of their own resources has been a model for me personally as Premier of the NWT as we negotiate a final devolution agreement that will give our own people control over and benefits from resource development.

Over the years Premier Lougheed has been a key partner as our territory advanced in its political development. As Premier of Alberta, he understood the value of a strong, united Western Canada and continually pushed for long-term investments in our country’s future. I believe this was the foundation of his tireless efforts to help our government with the planning that is needed to develop our hydro resources for the benefit of all of our people. Premier Lougheed has also been of assistance to the Aboriginal Pipeline Group in their commitment to see the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline through to completion with 1/3 Aboriginal ownership. He will be missed.