Some longtime Progressive Conservative MLAs will vacate their legislature seats with an eye to the federal scene next month.
In a flurry of similar news releases Friday, Chris d’Entremont, Alfie MacLeod and Eddie Orrell announced their resignations will become official on July 31. All three have secured nominations as Conservative candidates in the Oct. 21 federal election.
D’Entremont, the MLA for Argyle Barrington, was nominated last month in West Nova.
“I am enthusiastic about taking on new challenges as the Conservative MP for West Nova,” d’Entremont said. “And I am very excited to watch Tim Houston and Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives form the next government.”
The 16-year MLA said it has been “an honour and a privilege” to represent the people of Argyle and Barrington.
“I am proud of what I have accomplished and of the many people who worked alongside me.”
He was first elected as the MLA for Argyle in August 2003.
His ministerial posts have included agriculture and fisheries, Acadian affairs, health, community services and youth and senior citizens secretariats.
In opposition he acted as Progressive Conservative House leader.
MacLeod was first elected as MLA for Cape Breton-West from 1995 to 1998 and re-elected in 2006 and 2009. He has served as MLA for Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg since 2013.
MacLeod has been House Speaker and PC government caucus chairman. In opposition, he was veterans affairs critic.
“My passion for Cape Breton has only grown in my time as an MLA and I look forward to taking on the challenges facing our Island and the next MP for Cape Breton-Canso,” MacLeod said.
Orrell was first elected as the MLA in a Northside-Westmount byelection in 2011. In opposition, he has been government whip, critic for health and labour and advanced education. Most recently he was chairman of the standing committee of public accounts.
“If given the honour to be the Conservative MP for Sydney-Victoria in Ottawa, I will bring the same level of professionalism, tenacity and fight that I have the last eight years as the MLA,” Orrell said.
