Smith says she's waiting on Nenshi to declare his intent before calling byelection

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

Facing demands from Opposition New Democrats to call the byelection, Smith is in turn putting pressure on Nenshi to set his sights on a legislature seat.

Smith has until the new year to call the race in Lethbridge-West, after the riding's former NDP representative, Shannon Phillips, resigned in July.

In the meantime, the premier has been campaigning in Lethbridge for the UCP's local candidate, John Middleton-Hope.

Speaking with local reporters Monday, Smith said she's happy to call the byelection once the NDP finds someone who will step down and open up a seat for Nenshi.

"I'm kind of waiting for the leader of the official Opposition," said Smith, who argued it would be in the best interests of taxpayers to have both byelections at the same time.

"He has a few more weeks to see if one of his MLAs will step up and make way for him so that he can be in the legislature, and if that doesn’t happen, then we’ll call the byelection," she said.