Finance Minister and Melfort MLA Rod Gantefoer announces that he will not be running again in the 2011 provincial election.
 
Gantefoer was first elected in 1995 and was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Party in 1997.  He was re-elected as a Saskatchewan Party MLA in 1999, 2003 and 2007 and has served as the province’s Finance Minister since the election of the Saskatchewan Party government.
 
“It has been a tremendous experience serving the people of the Melfort constituency and all the people of Saskatchewan over my four terms as MLA, but the time is right for me to move on to something else,” Gantefoer said.  “I plan to work for a few more years after I leave politics.  So if I sought one more term, that would take me to 2015, and that might be a little past the point when I would be wanting to start a new career.”
 
Premier Brad Wall praised Gantefoer’s contribution and service to his party and his province.
 
“Since the day the Saskatchewan Party was formed, Rod Gantefoer has been a leader within our party and our caucus,” Wall said.  “But more importantly, he’s been a friend – a good friend to me, to his colleagues, to his constituents and to all the people of Saskatchewan.
 
“His steady approach has served us well through a time when the province’s revenues were anything but steady.  Saskatchewan’s finances today are in better shape than any other province in Canada and that’s thanks in large part to the leadership of Rod Gantefoer.”
 
Gantefoer said he wanted to make his announcement now to allow his constituency ample time to find a new candidate and to give the Premier maximum flexibility in making changes to cabinet, which is expected to happen before the end of the month.
 
“I look forward to continuing to serve in whatever capacity the Premier assigns me and continuing to serve the people of Melfort constituency as their MLA,” Gantefoer said.
 
Wall said Gantefoer will be missed.
 
“Our caucus will miss his humour, his candor, his passion for good government and greatness for Saskatchewan,” Wall said. “I will miss my friend, Rod.” Finance Minister and Melfort MLA Rod Gantefoer today announced that he will not be running again in the 2011 provincial election.
 
Gantefoer was first elected in 1995 and was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Party in 1997.  He was re-elected as a Saskatchewan Party MLA in 1999, 2003 and 2007 and has served as the province’s Finance Minister since the election of the Saskatchewan Party government.
 
“It has been a tremendous experience serving the people of the Melfort constituency and all the people of Saskatchewan over my four terms as MLA, but the time is right for me to move on to something else,” Gantefoer said.  “I plan to work for a few more years after I leave politics.  So if I sought one more term, that would take me to 2015, and that might be a little past the point when I would be wanting to start a new career.”