Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Since 1971, Alberta has been ruled by a majority Progressive Conservative Government, the longest unbroken run in government at the provincial level in Canada. When the PC’s replaced Social Credit in 1971, that party had been in power for 36 years. Under the leadership of Premier Peter Lougheed, Alberta prospered, due to substantial growth in the resource sector coupled with an increased share of revenues from oil and gas. Also established was the Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, a non-renewable resource fund designed to be of long-term benefit to Alberta. Sadly though, since Lougheed retired from politics in 1986, opportunities have arguably been squandered and the fund value has remained stagnant despite continued growth in fossil fuel production. However, forty some years of Tory rule has seen some notable successes such as limiting overall public debt and adapting to rapid economic and social growth. But over that time, governments have been unable to implement a tax regime that mitigates the effe