Skip to content

Calgary MLA Blackett leaving politics

Alberta’s former culture minister is about to become a former legislature member.

CALGARY — Alberta’s former culture minister is about to become a former legislature member.

Lindsay Blackett, who represents Calgary-North West for the Tories, has announced he will not seek re-election.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Blackett says he’s weighed the pros and cons for six months and has decided he needs to spend more time with his family.

The one-term politician also says it was never his intention to make his legislature job a career.

Blackett was culture minister under former premier Ed Stelmach but was relegated to the backbenches last fall when Alison Redford took over.

He is one of many veteran politicians who will not run in the spring election, including Tories Iris Evans, Ron Liepert, Ken Kowalski, Mel Knight and Stelmach.