Alberta Government Telephones
Encyclopedia
Alberta Government Telephones (AGT) (formally the Alberta Government Telephones Commission) was formed by the Liberal government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford
in 1906 following the acquisitions by the government of several independent telephone companies. In 1908, AGT acquired the Bell Telephone Company
's Alberta operations.
Alberta Government Telephones was directly managed by the province's Department of Public Works as a public utility until 1958 when it was transformed into a crown corporation, formally becoming the Alberta Government Telephones Commission. For several decades, from 1945 until 1960, AGT operated the province's educational radio station, CKUA
.
In 1990, Telus Communications was established as a holding company for AGT in order to facilitate its privatization
. In 1991, the province of Alberta sold its remaining ownership interest in AGT to Telus for $870 million. Telus acquired ED Tel from the city of Edmonton
in 1995 and in 1996 the AGT and Ed Tel brandings were retired in favour of the Telus name. Telus merged with BCTel
in 1999 to form the current Telus
Corporation.
Alexander Cameron Rutherford
Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895...
in 1906 following the acquisitions by the government of several independent telephone companies. In 1908, AGT acquired the Bell Telephone Company
Bell Canada
Bell Canada is a major Canadian telecommunications company. Including its subsidiaries such as Bell Aliant, Northwestel, Télébec, and NorthernTel, it is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Manitoba and in the northern territories,...
's Alberta operations.
Alberta Government Telephones was directly managed by the province's Department of Public Works as a public utility until 1958 when it was transformed into a crown corporation, formally becoming the Alberta Government Telephones Commission. For several decades, from 1945 until 1960, AGT operated the province's educational radio station, CKUA
CKUA
CKUA is a Canadian radio station. Originally located at the University of Alberta in Edmonton , it now broadcasts from studios in downtown Edmonton and south Calgary. CKUA was created in 1927 through a provincial grant which allowed the University of Alberta's Extension Department to purchase the...
.
In 1990, Telus Communications was established as a holding company for AGT in order to facilitate its privatization
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
. In 1991, the province of Alberta sold its remaining ownership interest in AGT to Telus for $870 million. Telus acquired ED Tel from the city of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
in 1995 and in 1996 the AGT and Ed Tel brandings were retired in favour of the Telus name. Telus merged with BCTel
BCTel
BC Telephone and later BC Tel was the legal operating name for the province wide telephone company operating throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada....
in 1999 to form the current Telus
TELUS
Telus is a national telecommunications company in Canada that provides a wide range of telecommunications products and services including internet access, voice, entertainment, video, and satellite television. The company is based in Burnaby, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver...
Corporation.