CALGARY – Senator Doug Black and Premier Jim Prentice had a constructive dialogue in Calgary today on a number of issues important to Albertans.
“I was happy to have the opportunity to discuss important matters of federal-provincial relations with Premier Prentice in Calgary today,” said Senator Black. “We had a constructive dialogue on a number of issues and I passed on my congratulations to the Premier in his new role and look forward to working together to advance the interests of all Albertans.”
Among the topics raised by Senator Black were market access for Alberta’s energy, temporary foreign workers, and the labour market challenges of Alberta’s growing economy.
Doug Black is confident in the promise of Alberta and Canada.
He placed strongly in first position in the 2012 Alberta Senate Nominee Election, and was appointed to the Senate on January 25, 2013. Senator Black serves on the Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources and the Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.
Senator Black is Senior Counsel at Dentons Canada LLP, a global law firm. He studied at the University of Alberta, and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Senator Black was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2002 and was named as one of Canada’s 25 most influential lawyers for 2012 by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
Senator Black is deeply involved in his community, and was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005 in recognition of his many contributions. He served as Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Calgary, where he guided the development of the bold and ambitious Eyes High strategy to become one of Canada’s top five research universities by 2016. Senator Black is Governor Emeritus of the Banff Centre, Alberta’s nationally and internationally renowned centre of excellence in creativity and the arts, and was National Co-Chair of the Centre’s successful $128 million campus revitalization campaign. He has served as Chair of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation, which equips disadvantaged youth with the tools to ignite change in their communities through the arts. Senator Black was also the Founder of Lake Crest School in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Senator Black has been a long-time proponent for responsible energy development and an advocate for diversifying Canada’s energy markets. He was founding president of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada, a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the development of a Canadian energy framework.
Senator Black lives in Alberta with his wife Linda, and they have two adult children. Together, Senator Black and his wife are active swimmers, cyclists, and supporters of the arts.