Provincial finance minister steps down, announces leadership bid
Ted Morton has announced he is stepping down as Alberta’s finance minister to launch a bid to lead Alberta’s Conservatives following the sudden resignation of Premier Ed Stelmach this week. Should he be elected party leader, Morton said he would attempt to merge the Progressive Conservative “mothership,” with the upstart Wildrose Alliance party. Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith immediately rejected the proposal as “highly optimistic and a little patronizing.” Morton’s chances of winning are reportedly slim, having lost most of his supporters to the Wildrose Alliance, and given his rift with Stelmach over the provincial budget, which almost compelled Morton to resign in protest. Lloyd Snelgrove will replace Morton as finance minister.