Peter Lougheed facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Peter Lougheed PC CC AOE QC
Peter Lougheed in 1971
10th Premier of Alberta
In office September 10, 1971 – November 1, 1985
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Grant MacEwan Ralph Steinhauer Frank C. Lynch-Staunton Helen Hunley
Preceded by	Harry E. Strom
Succeeded by	Don Getty
Leader of the Official Opposition in Alberta
In office February 15, 1968 – April 27, 1971
Preceded by	Michael Maccagno
Succeeded by	Harry Strom
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Calgary West
In office May 23, 1967 – February 28, 1986
Preceded by	Donald S. Fleming
Succeeded by	Elaine McCoy
Personal details
Born	Edgar Peter Lougheed (1928-07-26)July 26, 1928 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Died	September 13, 2012(2012-09-13) (aged 84) Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Political party	Progressive Conservative
Spouse	Jeanne Rogers ​ (m. 1952)​
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Alberta (BA) (LLB) Harvard University (MBA)
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Edgar Peter Lougheed (born July 26, 1928 – died September 13, 2012) was an important Canadian politician. He was a lawyer and a member of the Progressive Conservative party. Peter Lougheed served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985. During his time as Premier, Alberta saw many changes and a lot of economic growth.

Peter Lougheed was born in Calgary, Alberta. His grandfather, Sir James Alexander Lougheed, was a well-known businessman and a Canadian Senator. Peter went to the University of Alberta where he studied law. He also played football for the University of Alberta Golden Bears and later for the Edmonton Eskimos for two seasons. After university, he worked in business and practiced law in Calgary.

In 1965, Peter Lougheed became the leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party. At that time, the party had no seats in the provincial government. He helped the party win seats in the 1967 election, becoming the Leader of the Official Opposition. Then, in the 1971 election, he was elected Premier. His party won 49 out of 75 seats, ending the long rule of the Social Credit Party which had governed Alberta since 1935.

Lougheed's leadership started a new era for the Progressive Conservatives in Alberta. This era lasted until 2015, making it the longest time a political party stayed in power in Canadian history. He led his party to big wins in the 1975, 1979, and 1982 elections, winning a large majority of votes each time.

As Premier, Lougheed focused on developing Alberta's oil and gas resources. He created the Alberta Heritage Fund to save money from these resources for Alberta's future. He also introduced the Alberta Bill of Rights. He had disagreements with Pierre Trudeau's federal government, especially about the National Energy Program in 1980. After tough talks, they reached an agreement on sharing energy money in 1982. Calgary's successful bid to host the 1988 Winter Olympics also happened during his time as Premier. Alberta grew a lot economically and saw many social changes under his government.

After leaving politics, Lougheed continued to be involved in many organizations. From 1996 to 2002, he was the Chancellor of Queen's University. In 2012, a group of Canadian experts named Peter Lougheed the best Canadian Premier of the last forty years.

Early Life and Education

Peter Lougheed was born in Calgary, Alberta, on July 26, 1928. His father was Edgar Donald Lougheed, a lawyer, and his mother was Edna Alexandria Bauld. Peter's grandfather, Sir James Alexander Lougheed, was a very important person in Calgary. He was a Senator and a pioneer lawyer.

Peter went to several schools in Calgary. At Central Collegiate Institute, he helped start the students' union and became its first president.

After high school in 1947, Peter went to the University of Alberta. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1951 and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1952. While at university, he was also elected president of the Students' Union in 1951. He also wrote for the sports section of the student newspaper, The Gateway.

Playing Football in University

Even though he wasn't very tall, Peter Lougheed loved football. Before university, he played for the junior Calgary Tornadoes. People described him as a "speedy and elusive back."

At the University of Alberta, he played for the University of Alberta Golden Bears. After that, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Western Interprovincial Football Union for two years (1949 and 1950). He was a punt return specialist for the Eskimos.

After Football and Law School

On June 21, 1952, Peter Lougheed married Jeanne "Jeannie" Estelle Rogers. They met at the University of Alberta.

After law school, Lougheed worked at a law firm in Calgary. But he wanted to learn more about business, so he went to Harvard University and earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 1954. While studying, he worked at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City and for Gulf Oil in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In Tulsa, he saw what happened to an oil town after its resources ran out. This experience made him think about Alberta's future.

Lougheed believed it was good to have different experiences. He worked as a legal assistant at a construction company, Mannix Corporation, and was later promoted. In 1962, he started his own law practice. He also served on the boards of the Calgary Stampeders football club and the Calgary Stampede and Exhibition. In the early 1960s, he started thinking about a career in politics.

Starting in Politics

Peter Lougheed's family had a history with the Conservative Party, which inspired him to enter politics. At the time, the provincial Progressive Conservative party in Alberta was not very strong. In the 1963 election, they won only 13 percent of the votes and no seats.

Lougheed wanted to make the provincial party stronger and different from the federal party. He wanted voters to know he was the main leader for the provincial party.

In 1943 Ernest Manning became Alberta's premier, a position he held until 1968.

The Social Credit party had been in power in Alberta since 1935, led by Premier Ernest Manning. Manning was very popular. Lougheed believed it was time for a change. He thought the Social Credit party was too focused on rural areas and not strong enough in dealing with the federal government. Lougheed wanted Alberta to be a strong partner in Canada.

He decided to run for the leadership of the provincial Progressive Conservative party. He traveled around Alberta, meeting people and building support. In March 1965, Lougheed won the leadership election.

After becoming leader, his first challenge was a special election in 1966. His party finished third, but Lougheed saw it as a small setback. He also helped with Calgary's bid to host the 1972 Winter Olympics, showing his interest in big projects for Alberta.

The 1967 Alberta Election

Lougheed worked hard to prepare for the May 1967 election. His goal was to win his own seat and become the official opposition. The Progressive Conservatives used red, white, and blue materials with the slogan "Alberta Needs an Alternative." Lougheed's personal slogan was "Let's Start It in Calgary West."

Premier Manning usually avoided debates, but he agreed to one hosted by church leaders. Lougheed's performance in this debate was praised by newspapers. He was seen as the only politician who could challenge Manning.

Lougheed won his seat in Calgary-West with 62 percent of the vote. The Progressive Conservatives won six seats in total, and Lougheed became the Leader of the Opposition. This group of six elected Conservatives was known as the "original six." People saw this as a positive step, giving Albertans a strong alternative government.

Leading the Opposition

On February 15, 1968, Peter Lougheed officially became the Leader of the Opposition in the Alberta Legislature. He sat across from Premier Manning.

Premier Manning knew his party's support was dropping. He retired in September 1968, and Harry Strom became the new Premier. In a special election in 1969, a Progressive Conservative candidate won Manning's old seat, showing Lougheed's party was gaining strength.

Premier Strom was seen as a good person but lacked the energy and experience of Manning. He struggled to update the Social Credit Party to fit Alberta's growing cities. In contrast, Lougheed's Progressive Conservative team was much younger.

In the Legislature, Lougheed and his team carefully planned their questions for the government each day. They focused on one government minister at a time, which created suspense and concern for the government. This strategy was very effective.

Lougheed's success in Alberta was noticed across Canada. He was invited to speak at a federal Progressive Conservative convention in 1968. In 1970, his party introduced 21 bills, which was a lot for an opposition party. This showed they were a serious alternative.

Through special elections, Lougheed's team grew. By the time of the August 1971 election, the Progressive Conservatives had 10 members in the Legislature.

The 1971 General Election

The 1971 election was set for August 30. New rules were in place: the number of government members increased from 65 to 75, and the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18.

Lougheed's party had been preparing for this election since mid-1970. They created consistent slogans and advertising materials, especially for television. Lougheed's team emphasized that they were an "alternative" government, not just an "opposition." Lougheed traveled to every area of the province to meet voters.

On August 30, Albertans voted for Peter Lougheed's Progressive Conservative Party. They won 49 out of 75 seats, including all 16 seats in Edmonton and 9 out of 13 in Calgary. Lougheed easily kept his own seat.

Many people believed Lougheed's victory was due to his strong personality and the fact that Alberta was becoming more urban. The Social Credit government seemed out of touch. Newspapers called Lougheed's win a "stunning upset."

Premier of Alberta (1971–1985)

On September 10, 1971, Peter Lougheed became Alberta's tenth Premier. He led a majority government with 49 seats.

Winning Elections as Premier

Lougheed was very popular in his home area, which allowed him to focus on campaigning across the province for the 1975 election. The Progressive Conservatives promised to manage the government well. They also promised to create the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, lower personal income taxes, and increase spending on social programs. These promises were possible because of the growing money from oil and gas. Lougheed was the main focus of the campaign, with slogans like "Lougheed Leadership." The Progressive Conservative Party won a huge victory in 1975, taking 69 out of 75 seats.

In the 1979 election, Lougheed's party became even more popular. They won 74 out of 79 seats. Lougheed's main concern was making sure his candidates and volunteers didn't get too relaxed, so he campaigned hard across the province.

The 1982 election was Lougheed's last as Premier. He focused on Alberta's control over its natural resources, which gained him even more support. The Progressive Conservatives won 75 out of 79 seats, one of the biggest wins in Alberta's history. Lougheed refused to debate his opponents, saying his party were "doers" and others were "knockers."

Peter Lougheed announced he would retire from politics on June 26, 1985. Don Getty, who was part of Lougheed's first team in 1967, became the next Premier on November 1, 1985.

How Lougheed Ran the Government

When he became Premier, Lougheed wanted to make the government more open and connected to Albertans. He started broadcasting meetings of the Legislature on TV in 1972 and began keeping written records of debates.

Lougheed's government made big changes to policies and finances. They created special committees with members of his party to discuss laws. Lougheed also often approved spending money without including it in the public budget first. This made it harder for others to question how the money was being spent.

Because Lougheed won such large majorities, he had many members in his party. He held mandatory meetings for all his party members, which he led. He also made sure that his Cabinet members (ministers) were often appointed to different jobs, so they would learn new things. He expanded the size of the Cabinet to make sure all regions of Alberta were represented.

Lougheed also appointed a member of the opposition party to lead a committee that checks government spending. However, this committee still had more government members, so it didn't have much power to hold the government accountable.

Energy Policies and Challenges

As Premier, Lougheed wanted to make sure Albertans got a fair share of the money from their oil and gas resources. He also wanted to protect Alberta's control over these resources from the federal government.

In 1972, Lougheed changed the rules for oil and gas royalties, which are payments to the government. This increased Alberta's share of the money. When the 1973 oil crisis happened, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau introduced a new policy that taxed oil exports and set lower prices for oil within Canada. This hurt Alberta. Lougheed used this as a reason to cancel old oil and gas leases and issue new ones with higher royalty rates.

Minesite at Syncrude's Mildred Lake plant

The early 1970s also brought the chance to develop the Athabasca oil sands through the Syncrude project. Lougheed wanted this project to start, for Alberta to get fair royalties, and for Albertans to be able to invest in it. He negotiated for Alberta to own part of the project, the pipeline, and the power plant. The negotiations were tough, but an agreement was reached in 1973. However, a partner pulled out in 1974. In 1975, Alberta, Ontario, and the federal government stepped in to save the project. This deal helped Fort McMurray grow from a small town to a much larger community.

In 1980, the Trudeau government introduced the National Energy Program. This program aimed to give Canada more control over its energy and share energy money more fairly. Lougheed strongly opposed it, saying it would bring too much "Ottawa" (federal control) to Alberta. He even threatened to reduce Alberta's oil and gas production to pressure Trudeau. This threat worked, and they reached an agreement in 1981. Lougheed later regretted a photo of him toasting with Trudeau after the agreement.

The 1980s also saw oil prices drop. Lougheed had to lower royalty rates and focus on other types of natural gas to help Alberta's economy. In 1985, just before he retired, Lougheed and other western premiers, along with the federal government, agreed to remove the remaining parts of the National Energy Program.

Some critics said Lougheed's strong stance against federal oil policies made Albertans feel they had to choose between their province and their country. This even led to some people supporting Alberta becoming separate from Canada.

Alberta's Place in Canada

Lougheed's ideas about how provinces should relate to the federal government had a lasting impact on Canada. He played a big role in changing the Canadian Constitution in the 1970s and 1980s. He helped create the rule that changes to the Constitution need approval from the federal government and at least seven provinces representing 50 percent of the Canadian population. This rule also allowed provinces to opt out of certain changes if they affected their rights.

Lougheed also helped include the notwithstanding clause in the Constitution Act, 1982. This clause allows provincial governments to temporarily override certain parts of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau served as Prime Minister for a majority of Lougheed's Premiership

Lougheed's influence began when he rejected an earlier proposed Constitution plan and created a new government department to handle relations with other governments. This department helped Alberta become a leader among the provinces.

Prime Minister Trudeau wanted to bring the Canadian Constitution fully under Canadian control and add a Charter of Rights. Lougheed and other premiers, especially from Quebec, had different goals. Lougheed wanted more control over resources and changes to the Senate and Supreme Court.

Tensions grew when Trudeau put an export tax on Alberta oil in 1973. Lougheed called it the most unfair action in Canadian history. This made Lougheed even more determined that Alberta would only support constitutional changes if its control over resources was protected.

Lougheed's government released a paper in 1978 that said changes to the division of power between federal and provincial governments needed the consent of the provinces whose rights were affected.

When Trudeau tried to change the Constitution on his own in 1981, Lougheed led a group of eight provinces that opposed him. Lougheed argued that Alberta would only support changes if provincial rights were protected and the federal government did not act alone. He even boycotted parliamentary hearings. Eventually, the Supreme Court ruled on the matter, and negotiations continued.

International Relations

Lougheed also pushed for better trade between Canada and the United States, which led to the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement. He was very good at planning his trips to Washington, D.C., and was described as one of the most effective Canadian politicians to deal with the U.S. Congress.

In 1979, Lougheed created a full-time Minister of Foreign Trade. He made several official international trips, often bringing his wife Jeanne. He believed having spouses attend changed the atmosphere of the visits. His trips included Japan, Europe, the United States, China, and the Middle East.

Protecting the Environment

During Lougheed's time as Premier, there were big changes for the environment in Alberta. The government worked to improve access to nature for Albertans. In 1975, Fish Creek Provincial Park was created in Calgary. Later, in 1977, Kananaskis Provincial Park was created, which was later renamed after him. Other efforts were made to create urban parks in cities like Edmonton.

Economic Growth and Development

Peter Lougheed wanted to use Alberta's natural resource money to help the economy grow and become more diverse. In 1984, his government released a plan for industry and science, recognizing that the oil boom wouldn't last forever.

Lougheed's government purchased Pacific Western Airlines in 1974 to help develop Northern and Western Canada. This was a secret takeover and caused some debate, but the airline's headquarters were moved to Calgary. In 1983, his government sold the airline.

Supporting Arts and Culture

When Lougheed became Premier, Alberta was seen as a very rural province with a focus on agricultural events. Under his leadership, Alberta became a more urban and modern society.

Before the 1971 election, Lougheed promised to support a "mosaic" approach to culture, celebrating different traditions. He appointed Horst Schmid as Minister for Culture, who worked hard to promote the arts. The government started a program to match private donations to arts organizations. The budget for culture grew a lot during his time.

In 1974, the province created Heritage Day as a holiday to celebrate cultural diversity. Many festivals, like the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and Edmonton Fringe Festival, started during this time. Lougheed's government also supported Edmonton's bid for the 1978 Commonwealth Games and Calgary's bid for the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Many people believe Lougheed's support for the arts came from his wife, Jeanne, who loved music and dance. Jeanne was very involved in cultural organizations, including the Alberta Ballet Company.

Relationship with Federal Progressive Conservatives

Lougheed transformed the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta from a small party into a powerful one that governed Alberta for over 40 years. He built the party from scratch, bringing in many people who helped him win power and also supported the federal party.

Joe Clark began his political career as a volunteer and candidate for Lougheed in the 1960s, and later served as Prime Minister

Joe Clark, who later became Prime Minister, worked as a volunteer for Lougheed in the 1960s. He helped Lougheed find candidates for the 1967 election.

Later, many people wanted Lougheed to become the leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party and even Prime Minister. He was asked several times, especially in 1975 and 1983. However, Lougheed always said no. He felt it was his responsibility to Albertans after winning elections. He also mentioned his age and not being fluent in French as reasons, as he felt speaking French was important for a federal leader.

In 1983, when Brian Mulroney became the federal Progressive Conservative leader, Lougheed encouraged Albertans to consider him.

Later Life and Legacy

Peter Lougheed officially left his seat in the Alberta Legislature on February 27, 1986, and returned to private life. He was 57 years old. After politics, he remained active in law and business. He joined a law firm, promoted the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement, and co-chaired the Canada-Japan Forum. He also served as an honorary chair for the Calgary Olympic Winter Games Organizing Committee.

Lougheed served on the boards of many Canadian businesses, sometimes as many as 17 at once. He continued to support Alberta's natural gas industry. In 1996, he became the Chancellor of Queen's University, a role he held until 2002.

Political Involvement After Retirement

Lougheed usually didn't comment on Alberta's politics after he retired. However, after Premier Ralph Klein resigned in 2006, Lougheed started giving occasional political opinions. He endorsed Jim Dinning in the 2006 Progressive Conservative leadership election and Alison Redford in the 2011 leadership race, which many believed helped her win.

He sometimes criticized or supported later Progressive Conservative premiers. In 1995, he criticized cuts to social services. In 2006, he called for a review of Alberta's oil and gas royalties, which had been lowered. This led to a major policy discussion in the 2006 leadership race.

Lougheed strongly supported the Charlottetown Accord, which was a plan to change the Canadian Constitution. He saw it as a way for Quebec to fully join the Constitution. He supported an elected Senate with equal representation for each province and special protections for Quebec's language and culture.

Illness and Passing

Peter Lougheed had a heart condition and high blood pressure. In 1995, he had heart surgery. In September 2012, his health got much worse, and he passed away from natural causes at the Peter Lougheed Centre, a hospital named after him in Calgary.

His body was displayed at the Alberta Legislature Building from September 17 to 18. Flags across the province were lowered to half-mast. A public memorial was held on September 21, 2012, in Calgary.

Many important people shared their condolences. Prime Minister Stephen Harper called Lougheed "one of the most remarkable Canadians of his generation." Alberta Premier Alison Redford cut short a trip to attend his funeral. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and other leaders also spoke about his importance.

Lougheed's Impact

Peter and Jeanne Lougheed were often compared to famous couples like Jackie and John F. Kennedy. People said they were treated like "movie stars" across Alberta. Lougheed's time as Premier was seen as a "Camelot" (a golden age) for the arts in Alberta.

As a politician, Lougheed traveled all over Alberta to meet voters. He taught his party members the importance of meeting people door-to-door. He looked for community leaders and people from different backgrounds to join his party. He believed in having professionals from various fields in politics. Lougheed understood the power of television and used it in his campaigns. He also wanted to move government offices out of Edmonton and Calgary to other parts of the province.

During his 14 years as Premier, Alberta saw huge economic and cultural growth, mostly thanks to oil and gas money. Lougheed's policies led to the development of the Athabasca oil sands and the creation of the Alberta Energy Company to help the oil and gas industry. Even though his party was called Conservative, Lougheed often made policies that increased the government's role in the economy, like buying Pacific Western Airlines. He also raised royalty rates for oil and gas and even reduced oil production during the National Energy Program. These actions were sometimes unpopular with the oil and gas industry and conservatives.

Lougheed did not believe in giving companies free money. Instead, he wanted the province to own a share in businesses it supported. In 1976, he created the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund as a "rainy day" fund for oil and gas money. He also wanted to make Alberta's economy less dependent on oil and gas. However, during his time, a large part of Alberta's budget still came from these resources.

His work went beyond Alberta. He was a key leader for Canadian premiers during the debates to bring the Canadian Constitution home in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He is credited with the amending formula and the notwithstanding clause in the Constitution Act, 1982.

Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney called Lougheed a "great leader for Alberta...and for the entire nation." Biographer Alan Tupper said Lougheed showed Alberta's best qualities and was the "principal architect of modern Alberta." Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien described Lougheed as "tough, but he was a gentleman." Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said, "I have never known an Alberta or a Canadian that did not benefit from his legacy."

In 2012, a group of 30 important Canadians named Peter Lougheed the best Canadian Premier of the past 40 years.

Honours and Recognition

In 1971, the Cree Nation named Lougheed honorary chief "Thunderbird." Later, the Blood Nation named him honorary chief "Crop Eared Wolf."

Peter Lougheed was given the title "The Honourable" during his time in government (1971-1986). When he became a privy councillor in 1982, he kept the title for life. In 1986, he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, which is one of Canada's highest honours. In 1989, he was named to the Alberta Order of Excellence.

The University of Alberta created the Peter Lougheed Scholarship in 1986. Harvard University also gave him a Distinguished Alumni Award.

Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Kananaskis Country was renamed after him in 1986. The Peter Lougheed Centre, a hospital in Calgary, was also named in his honour. He received his final medical care and passed away in this hospital. Other places named after him include the Peter Lougheed Multicultural Village in Edmonton and a building at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Electoral Record

As Party Leader

As MLA

Images for kids

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  Peter Lougheed in 1971

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  Peter Lougheed's signature

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  Ernest Manning became Alberta's premier in 1943.

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  Minesite at Syncrude's Mildred Lake plant

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  Pierre Elliott Trudeau served as Prime Minister for a majority of Lougheed's Premiership

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  Pacific Western Airlines Boeing 737-200

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  Joe Clark began his political career as a volunteer and candidate for Lougheed in the 1960s, and later served as Prime Minister

See also

In Spanish: Peter Lougheed para niños