It will be a few weeks before Alberta farmers know where agriculture stands with Alberta’s new premier designate, Jim Prentice.
Prentice beat his two contenders to become leader of the Progressive Conservative party and Alberta’s 16th premier after Alison Redford resigned as premier and later as an MLA.
Prentice received 17,963 votes. Rick McIver received 2,742 and Thomas Lukaszuk 2,681 in the race for leader of the Progressive Conservative Party.
It didn’t take long for Prentice to promise changes to the scandal-plagued party.
“My election of the leader of this party marks the beginning of a commitment to integrity and acceptance of responsibility in this province. Albertans expect excellence and they expect performance from those who are in positions of trust. They will not accept excuses,” he said.
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“Over time, the government has lost its way.”
Prentice has named a transition team to help him shape his cabinet until the fall sitting begins Oct. 27. None of the team has agricultural experience.
Prentice is not a sitting MLA and is expected to call a by-election this week. Prentice has also signaled he will have a smaller cabinet.
