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Current jobs: Senior executive vice-president and vice-chairman with CIBC since 2011; recently tapped by Enbridge to help build support among aboriginal groups for the Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline.

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Alison Redford’s recent resignation as premier and PC leader has some politicians and operatives scrambling for a saviour to rescue the party and carry on the 43-year Progressive Conservative dynasty.

Prentice is currently vice-chairman of CIBC and would take a huge pay cut if he ever left the private sector for provincial politics. As well, several Conservatives quietly believe Prentice — a former Calgary MP and senior minister in the Harper government — has his eyes on the leadership of the federal party whenever the prime minister makes his exit.

Nevertheless, the provincial “Draft Jim Prentice” movement is quickly gaining steam, as potential candidates gear up for an Alberta PC leadership vote in September.

“I would be more than happy to see Jim Prentice run. He can count on my support,” said Calgary Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai, the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is also a member of the Alberta PCs.

“I think Mr. Prentice would provide the strong leadership that is required in the PC party and the strong leadership that is required at the Alberta level,” Obhrai added. “I’ve already told Mr. Prentice some time back he can count on my support indeed.”

Prentice has said little publicly since Redford abruptly resigned March 19, and he did not stop to chat with reporters after speaking at an event in Ottawa on March 25.