Alberta Premier Alison Redford submits resignation
Posted March 19, 2014 5:22 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON (NEWS1130) – Alberta Premier Alison Redford is resigning.
Redford has been struggling to deal with unrest in her Progressive Conservative caucus over her leadership style and questionable expenses.
Last week, a backbench member of her government quit, calling Redford a bully, and earlier this week, an associate minister resigned, saying the party has issues with entitlement.
Redford took over the Conservative leadership in 2011 and led the party to a victory over the hard-charging Wildrose in the 2012 provincial election.
She is the second Tory premier to resign the job after holding it for less than five years.
Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach resigned after only four years as he faced a caucus revolt of his own over his budget.
The leader of the opposition Wildrose party is commenting on Redford’s resignation. Danielle Smith says it appears the polls that suggested Redford’s popularity was plummeting and unrest in her caucus got to the premier. “A leader either has to have control of that and be able to quell that kind of internal criticism, or they have to go. It’s clear that she made the decision that she wouldn’t be able to quell that internal criticism.”
Premier Christy Clark is offering her best wishes to Redford. “I want to thank Premier Alison Redford for her contributions to Alberta and all of Canada. Working with Premier Redford at Council of the Federation, New West Partnership, and Western Premiers’ Conference, we accomplished a lot. We also made significant progress in bilateral relations between our provinces, helping to secure our shared economic and environmental future. Whatever challenge she chooses to take on next, I wish Alison the very best.”
