Hal Kvisle
President and CEO, TransCanada Corporation

Under the leadership of Hal Kvisle, Calgary-based TransCanada Corporation has grown into the biggest natural gas pipeline company in North America. Kvisle has shown no signs of stopping as he jousted with fellow pipeliner- Enbridge over who will build the Canadian portion of the $20-billion US Alaska gas pipeline. Kvisle's tough-minded attitude about protecting his company's interests extended to another northern mega-project, the $7-billion Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Kvisle warned that undue financial demands by four aboriginal groups would threaten the proposed 1,350-kilometre pipeline. In 2004, Kvisle became the first Canadian to chair the board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, a powerful group representing the industry's major players across North America. Closer to home, the civil engineer also chairs the board of governors of Calgary's Mount Royal College. Kvisle also sits on the boards of the Bank of Montreal and PrimeWest Energy Inc. - WG

Why should TransCanada succeed in its battle with Enbridge over the Alaska gas pipeline?
First of all, I wouldn't characterize it as a battle. TransCanada has been involved in this project for 25 years and has established good working relationships with the Alaska producers, the state of Alaska and the Canadian government. Enbridge wishes to carve out a piece of the project and we understand why they would want to do that. But let's remember TransCanada has a 70% market share of natural gas transmission in Canada, which results in significant benefits to all producers who use the system. Enbridge owns half of a company with a 10% market share. We are the largest operator of gas pipelines in North America. We have this massive system starting in northern Alberta that the Alaska gas pipeline can connect to. It is funny to hear about how large the Alaska project is because it is really small compared to our project in the 1990s to double the gas pipeline infrastructure in North America and build a network that tied in New York, Chicago and California. I admire Enbridge as a pipeline company. If we get to the point where we need a partner, we would certainly look at Enbridge. But that point has not arrived yet.

Who do you think is the greatest Albertan ever?
You couldn't ask a more difficult question. If it were the greatest public figure in Alberta, it would unquestionably be Peter Lougheed. If it were the greatest visionary for Alberta and Western Canada, it would be Jack Gallagher, the president of Dome Petroleum. Another person is Dick Haskayne, the strongest corporate leader and corporate director that I have ever known. Finally, I must mention John Beddome, the former president of Dome Petroleum who died in May. There are thousands of people in downtown Calgary whose careers were touched by John Beddome.

In 100 years, will you warrant your own chapter in the history books, a footnote to great events or a single Google hit?
I guess I have a single Google hit now, so hopefully I can hang in with that in 100 years. I think 100 years from now, people will have no idea who I was or have any interest in what I was doing.