Editing Jim Prentice (section)

==Early parliamentary career==
Prentice ran in the riding of [[Calgary Centre-North]] in the 2004 election for the new Conservative Party, and won the seat with 54% of the popular vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=244 Calgary North Centre|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canadavotes2004/riding/244/ | work=[[CBC News]]}}</ref>

After being sworn in as the MP for Calgary Centre North on July 16, Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper named Prentice to the [[Shadow Cabinet]] as the [[Official Opposition]] Critic for Indian and Northern Affairs. In that role Prentice opposed the [[Tli Cho]] land claim agreement, which he said would make Canadian law secondary to Tlicho local law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=1394276&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=38&Ses=1#Int-991471 |title=38th Parliament, 1st Session. Edited Hansard, number 019, Monday, November 1, 2004 |publisher=.parl.gc.ca |access-date=2010-07-05}}</ref> Prentice was also a strong supporter of the proposed and controversial [[Alaskan Natural Gas Pipeline|Mackenzie Valley pipeline]].<ref>[http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/spch/2006/cepaad_e.html Notes for an Address by The Honourable Jim Prentice to the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association Annual Dinner, Calgary, Alberta, May 23, 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613185527/http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/spch/2006/cepaad_e.html |date=June 13, 2011 }} – Indian and Northern Affairs Canada</ref><ref>[http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/mackenzievalley_pipeline/index.html The Mackenzie Valley pipeline], CBC, March 12, 2007</ref> He criticized the [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] government for its treatment of aboriginal women, and its alleged costs of administering the [[Canadian Indian residential school system|Residential School]] Claims program for aboriginal victims of abuse.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/prentice-s-appointment-as-inac-minister-welcomed-1.617715 |title=Prentice's appointment as INAC minister welcomed |work= [[CBC News]] |date=2006-02-06 |access-date=2014-04-15}}</ref>

Prentice described himself as a [[Red Tory]] in the Conservative Party<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/globe-politics-insider/jim-prentice-tries-to-counter-red-tory-label-with-high-profile-recruit/article18466964/|title=Jim Prentice tries to counter "Red Tory" label with high profile recruit|first=Kelly|last=Cryderman|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=2014-05-05|access-date=2016-10-15}}</ref> and surprised many observers when he voted in favour of [[Civil Marriage Act|Bill C-38]] supporting [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/scfcn/CTVNews/20050203/same_sex_050203/Canada/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20071120223819/http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/scfcn/CTVNews/20050203/same_sex_050203/Canada/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 20, 2007 |title=Gay marriage bill reveals party divisions |publisher=Ctv.ca |date=2005-02-03 |access-date=2010-07-05}}</ref>