[Dion]

A long-time spokesman for Mr. Prentice, who asked not to be named, said Mr. Prentice will formally enter the governing party’s leadership race sometime after May 8, the day of the party’s major Calgary fundraising dinner he is set to chair. If Mr. Prentice indeed steps in, he will instantly have frontrunner status in the September vote.

“He’s been making calls to cabinet and caucus, I can confirm that, and he’s received a lot of encouragement to run,” said the spokesman. “He’s putting together a finance and campaign team. In the coming days – it will likely be a week or more – he will be making a formal announcement at which point in time he’ll outline his vision for the province.”

What he is looking at is the crossroads that Alberta is at right now, and the opportunity to contribute. He’s obviously had a lot of experience in the public and private sector. He feels that he has a lot to offer and he believes the province needs a conservative agenda.”

Although there has been rampant speculation in recent days that Mr. Prentice would run in Calgary-Elbow, the riding in the south of the city currently held by former premier Alison Redford – who is still an MLA – the spokesman said Mr. Prentice hasn’t given any thought to where he will run. Mr. Prentice served as an MP in Calgary Centre North from 2004-2010 and owns a house in northwest Calgary.

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