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Shayne Saskiw of Wildrose party is quitting politics, denounces ’flawed’ system

EDMONTON — Wildrose party house leader Shayne Saskiw is leaving politics.Saskiw says he will not seek re-election in his constituency of Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills, but will stay on for now.

EDMONTON — Wildrose party house leader Shayne Saskiw is leaving politics.

Saskiw says he will not seek re-election in his constituency of Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills, but will stay on for now.

The 33-year-old says he plans to fight for conservative change through direct advocacy, but won’t say if he has a particular job in mind.

He says his one term in politics was marked by growing disillusionment.

He says bold change is rarely possible in a flawed system where politicians seek safe middle ground to remain popular and get re-elected.

Saskiw says the capper was when 11 of his Wildrose caucus colleagues crossed the floor late last year to join Premier Jim Prentice and the Progressive Conservatives.