Premier calls provincial election for April 23

Premier Alison Redford asked Lt.-Gov. Donald Ethell to drop the writ Monday morning, triggering the province’s 28th general election April 23.

The campaign will be four short weeks, and is just six months after Redford took over the reins from former premier Ed Stelmach, who vacates the MLA’s seat in Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville as of the election call. Stelmach now officially retires as the local MLA for this area, having served since first elected in 1993.

Strathcona county councillor Jacquie Fenske is the new Progressive Conserviative nominee for the riding.

She is being challenged by Wildrose Alliance candidate Shannon Stubbs, who has been actively campaigning along with her leader Danielle Smith for the past year.

By Patricia Harcourt, Editor

For more see the March 27/12 issue of the Tofield Mercury