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No P.A. byelection as premier hints at spring election

May 19, 2015 | 6:48 AM

Premier Brad Wall says the Prince Albert Carlton MLA seat in the Saskatchewan Legislature will remain empty until the next provincial election.

In February, former MLA Darryl Hickie announced he’d be resigning in March, leaving the seat vacant. Wall said soon after that there would be no byelection in the Prince Albert Carlton constituency.

When that election is held is dependent upon when the federal government holds its election. If the federal government holds its election this fall, that pushes back the provincial election until next spring.

On the last day of the spring session at legislature, Wall reiterated the decision not to have a byelection.

Legally, Wall said the statute of limitations with a pending general election allows the government to abstain from holding a byelection in Prince Albert Carlton.

His reason for exercising that right has to do with money.

“I think it would be a very expensive process to call a byelection in Prince Albert and have a general election months after,” Wall told reporters.

“In the meantime, we have to work hard to provide that representation for the people of P.A. Carlton and we’ll do that.”

Wall said that will take the form of extra effort from himself, P.A. Northcote MLA Victoria Jurgens, and other cabinet members who will be in the Prince Albert area during the summer.

Joe Hargrave has been nominated the Sask. Party candidate for Prince Albert Carlton and the NDP has nominated Shayne Lazarowich.

claskowski@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk