Alberta jobs minister Doug Schweitzer quits cabinet, will resign seat soon

Alberta's jobs minister is leaving politics evenearlier than planned.

Doug Schweitzer, in a brief message posted on social media, sayshe has resigned from cabinet as the minister for jobs, economy andinnovation.

And he says he will resign as the United Conservative Partylegislature member for Calgary-Elbow by the end of the month.

Schweitzer had already announced in May he would not run in thenext general election, slated for May 2023.

A byelection must be called within six months of a seat opening.

He did not give a reason why he was leaving early but noted thelast six to 12 months have been "the economic turning point forAlberta."

The province's finances are in much better shape, with the priceof oil bringing billions of dollars back to Alberta's bottom line, he said.

"To my supporters and team members, thank you," wroteSchweitzer in the message posted late Friday afternoon.

"I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together overthese many years."

Premier Jason Kenney, in a statement, said: "Doug played animportant role in the creation of the United Conservative Party,"adding, "his contributions to Alberta's government have helped setAlberta back on the path of economic growth and prosperity."

Schweitzer is a lawyer with deep roots in politics.

He was a longtime conservative strategist in Manitoba, and inAlberta he managed the 2014 leadership campaign of former premier JimPrentice.

He came in a distant third to Kenney in the 2017 race to becomethe first leader of the UCP. He then served in Kenney's cabinet asjustice minister before moving to the jobs portfolio.

Schweitzer's decision comes as the party moves toward an Oct. 6 vote to replace Kenney as party leader and premier.