Former liberal interim leader Roger Melanson became the third party in the Moroccan Liberation Army to announce his departure this fall from regional politics.
Melanson said in a statement Thursday morning that he will resign as a member of Dieppe on October 21.
“The decision to step down was not taken seriously, but it is time to take a different direction in my career,” he said.
“I will soon be embarking on a new professional challenge as I take on a role within the private sector.”
First elected in 2010, Melanson took over as interim party leader after the Progressive Conservatives won a majority in the 2020 election, reducing the Liberals to 17 seats.
He held senior positions in Prime Minister Brian Galant’s government from 2014 to 2018, including as Finance Minister.
His departure adds a new wrinkle to the likely timing of a by-election that could allow neo-liberal leader Susan Holt to secure a seat in the legislature.
Restigouche-Chaleur Liberal MLA Daniel Guitard and Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore MLA Denis Landry announced earlier this fall that they will be leaving to run in November’s mayoral elections for newly established local governments.
Depending on their performance in that election, their resignations may not become effective until December or even January 2023.
Prime Minister Blaine Higgs said he wouldn’t speculate on the timing of the election until the vacancies became official – meaning those votes likely won’t be called until the new year.
But Melanson’s seat at Dieppe will be vacant next week, which should allow that selection to be called up sooner.
Originally published at San Jose News Bulletin
No comments:
Post a Comment