Political turmoil in Alberta

Alberta legislature

Alberta’s political landscape is looking quite a bit different after several resignations.

Doug Griffiths, a veteran Tory MLA and former cabinet minister announced Monday that he’s stepping down effective immediately saying it’s time for fresh faces in the party.

Griffiths ran for the party leadership against Alison Redford but when Jim Prentice became Premier Griffiths was removed from his cabinet seat.

Mary Anne Joblonski, Tory MLA for Red Deer-North also announced Monday she won’t be running in the next election while Donna Kennedy-Glans, the PC MLA for Calgary-Varsity announced she won’t be seeking reelection either.

Joe Anglin is announcing he will seek the Progressive Conservative nomination in Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre.  Anglin was an Alberta Green Party candidate and interim leader and a Wildrose MLA.  Most recently he was an independent after he left the Wildrose in November because of what he called "backroom in-fighting" within the party.

The provincial Liberals are looking for a new leader after Raj Sherman announced he’s also stepping down. “It’s time for me to turn the next page of my life. My son is 20, he’s at Ryerson and my mother is 76. I lost a parent along the way so it’s a personal family decision that I’ve made.”  Sherman has been leader of the Alberta Liberals for three years and will stay on as the MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark until the next provincial election. The Liberal board of directors will meet in Calgary on Sunday to select an interim leader and will also plan a leadership convention before the next provincial election.

Derek Fildebrant announced Monday he’s hoping to become the Wildrose candidate for Strathmore-Brooks.  He doesn’t currently live in the riding but says he is planning to move to Strathmore.  He said he’s considering a run at the Wildrose leadership. Fildebrandt was most recently with the Canadian Taxpayer’s Federation.