(March 15,2005) – The Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG) is pleased to announce the appointment of former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed to its board, effective immediately.

“Mr. Lougheed brings a great deal of experience and credibility to our organization,” said APG President Robert Reid.

"His experience in developing oil and gas resources in Alberta during his tenure as Premier in the 1970's and 1980's, will serve Northerners well as they work towards developing the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline."

Peter Lougheed served as Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985.  The grandson of Sir James Alexander Lougheed, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree (1950) and a Bachelor of Laws degree (1952), from the University of Alberta.  While a student in Edmonton, he played football for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University in 1954.

In 1965, he was elected Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta. In 1971, led the party to the first of four straight electoral victories (1971, 1975, 1979, 1982), before leaving politics in 1985.

Part of his legacy as Premier includes the formation of the Alberta Heritage Fund, which provides long-term benefits to Alberta whenever non-renewable resources are exploited. He also introduced the Alberta Bill of Rights.

Currently, Mr. Lougheed sits on the boards of several corporations and organizations, including the Royal Bank of Canada, AON Reed Stenhouse, Bechtel Canada Co., and the Carlyle Group, to name a few.  In 1986, he was named a Companion of the Order of Canada, and in 2001, was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.  

“We’re excited to be have someone of Peter Lougheed’s stature on our board,” said Robert Reid, adding that as a special advisor to a number of Canadian corporations and as well as the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Lougheed will be able to make a significant contribution to the future growth of the Aboriginal Pipeline Group.

The APG was created in 2000 and represents the interests of four Aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories in maximizing the ownership and benefits in a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline.