The provincial government abruptly purged the board and senior leaders of Alberta’s pension fund, defying a long-held principle that funds should be free of political interference.

The Alberta government on Wednesday appointed former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as chairman of the Alberta Investment Management Corp (AIMCo), after dismissing the entire board earlier this month because of low returns.

The Conservative politician will be on the hook to build the Heritage Savings Trust Fund to more than C$250 billion over the next 25 years.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper is the new chairman of the Alberta Investment Management Corporation, which oversees more than $160 billion in funds, including pension funds and the Heritage Savings Trust Fund.