Alberta finance minister, environment minister won't seek re-election this May
CBC
Finance Minister Travis Toews and Environment and Protected Areas Minister Sonya Savage both announced Friday they will not run in the provincial election, expected on May 29.
The moves have some political scientists watching for more potential high-profile departures from the UCP government.
Toews, the runner-up in last year's United Conservative Party leadership race, ended months of speculation when he announced his decision on Twitter Friday morning.
In an interview, he said he and his wife wrestled with personal, business and family considerations before he decided to leave politics.
"I have no plans to take another leadership run," he said. "I've never really aspired to political office."
Concerns about conservative unity in 2018 prompted him to run, he said.
Toews, a rancher, business owner and accountant, was elected MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti in 2019.
He was finance minister for all but a few months when he ran to replace former premier Jason Kenney as party leader, coming in a close second to Premier Danielle Smith on a sixth-round ballot.
As finance minister, Toews oversaw the best and worst of Alberta's turbulent oil and gas-powered economy — massive deficits, negative oil prices and an eye-popping surplus when the province guzzled in record oil and gas revenues in 2022.
He stickhandled many controversial files, including de-indexing personal income tax, arguing for wage cuts to nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and lifting the rate cap on auto insurance. Toews raised the ire of many teachers when he gave control of their pension fund to the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo).
Toews said Friday that reining in spending for three years allowed his final budget, which the legislature passed on Thursday, to grow spending and reflect Alberta's rising population.
On Friday afternoon, Savage tweeted a statement saying she would not seek re-election to spend more time with her family.
Both Toews and Savage said they will finish their terms in office.
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