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He’s in: Gord Wyant running for Sask. Party leader

Aug 25, 2017 | 11:35 AM

Provincial Justice Minister Gord Wyant will be leaving his current post to pursue the Saskatchewan Party’s top job.

Wyant made the announcement Friday morning at a restaurant in Saskatoon.

He began his political career as a Saskatoon Public Schools trustee in 2000, then became the Saskatoon city councillor for Ward 5 in 2003, winning re-election in 2006 and 2009.

Wyant transitioned to provincial politics in 2010, when he was elected as Sask. Party MLA for Saskatoon-Northwest in a byelection. He was then re-elected in the 2011 provincial election and again in 2015.

He served as the Sask. Party’s deputy house leader after the 2011 election and was made minister of justice and attorney-general in 2012.

In 2014, Wyant was appointed minister responsible for SaskBuilds and in 2016 added the titles of minister of corrections and policing, and minister responsible for SaskPower.

A lawyer by trade, Wyant was born and raised in Saskatoon and received his law degree at the University of Saskatchewan.

Wyant joins Jeremy Harrison and Tina Beaudry-Mellor as confirmed candidates to potentially succeed outgoing Premier Brad Wall.

Ken Cheveldayoff has told media he plans to make his official leadership announcement on Monday.

Health Minister Jim Reiter announced he will not be seeking the leadership.

Wall previously set a deadline of Aug. 28 for current cabinet ministers to step away from their portfolios if they plan to run.

Otherwise, candidates have until Nov. 24 to declare for the Sask. Party leadership convention, with voting beginning about a month before the Jan. 27 event in Saskatoon.

The vote will be conducted by preferential ballot among Sask. Party members who sign up for memberships before the end of December.