The following extract, from Lou Hyndman’s files when he was Provincial Treasurer, is an undated, unsigned briefing note about Alberta Treasury Branches (now ATB Financial) concerning a refinancing and resecuring of debt. From the note it appears that Pocklington’s primary bank dealings were not with ATB but with another undisclosed financial institution. According to the note, dealings between ATB and Pocklington were “satisfactory.” Pocklington at that time had interests in Edmonton Motors, the Oilers and Fidelity Trust whose ownership had been effectively taken from Pocklington. At the bottom of the briefing note was the very clear statement that ATB nor the Government of Alberta was interested in acquiring any interest in the Oilers’ hockey club.
The $11-million debenture soon grew to a $65-million headache for the new management of ATB by 1996. By the end of the decade Pocklington was out and a new, local ownership group established. But Pocklington’s dealings with the province became even more problematic and complicated when the flamboyant entrepreneur bought Gainers meat processors whose ownership led to a violent strike which brought Don Getty’s government into the picture.
Unsigned briefing on Pocklington and Treasury branchesAs the margin notes show (see PDF) there is a cryptic reference to the Calgary Flames and a note “balanced-fair.” In addition there is a reference to CCB or Canadian Commercial and Industrial Bank the institution that would eventually fail and which Heritage Fund money was invested in. There is also reference to the Oilers’ exploits -“top of the NHL.” 
This document is a rare find in Hyndman’s papers and is suggestive of the role ATB would play throughout the 1980s as Alberta debtors were being “de-marketed” by the major Canadian banks. ATB began scooping up more commercial loans with higher risk levels than the banks were comfortable with. One of the other borrowers confronted by the new ATB board in 1996 was Stuart Green Properties the owner of the Calgary Flames and of course the West Edmonton Mall guarantee to the Toronto-Dominion Bank.
TREASURY BRANCHES = PETER POCKLINGTON
Mr. Pocklington’s dealings with Alberta Treasury Branches through Pocklington Financial Corporation originated in 1979. This company owned or controlled numerous Pocklington business enterprises, including Fidelity Trust and the Edmonton Oiler Hockey Club.
Borrowings by Pocklington Financial Corporation are reported by Treasury Branches to have been maintained on a satisfactory basis and remain so at this date.
During 1983, when he surrendered control of Fidelity Trust under an agency agreement with Federal Regulatory Authorities, Mr. Pocklington arranged on a voluntary basis for additional security to be provided to Treasury Branches by way of a secondary Debenture against the assets of Pocklington Amalgamated Sports Corporation.
This secondary Debenture, although of considerable value from the aspect of security and income as an alternate source of repayment, does not constitute ownership or control of the Oilers Hockey Club and, in fact, Treasury Branches are not the principal banker for that operation. Furthermore, neither Treasury Branches nor the Government of Alberta has any interest in acquiring any level of ownership in this franchise.
BORROWER -Pocklington Financial Corporation
LOAN AMOUNT – $11,000,000
RATE OF INTEREST -Prime to Prime plus 1 ½
TERMS OF REPAYMENT -$250,000 by March 1, 1984
$1,100,000 by July 31, 1984
$1,100,000 by July 1, 1985
$1,100,000 by July 1, 1986
through to July 31, 1995
SECURITY HELD -General floating charge Debenture from P.F.C.
-General assignment of Book Debts
-Hypothecation of 10,757,005 common share of Fidelity
-Personal guarantees of Peter Pocklington
-General floating charge Debenture from Pocklington Amalgamated Sports Corporation (Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club)
NOTE:- This information PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL and not to be divulged to outside sources.
SOURCE: Provincial Archives of Alberta PR-1986-0245 (Hyndman papers) Box #90, File #1216