Mason to step down as NDP leader

NDP Leader Brian Mason announced that he will be stepping down from his position effective Oct. 19. “I am proud of the work that we have done together, but I believe that it is time for a new leader to tackle the changing political landscape and lead us in to the next election,” he said in a written statement. “I feel confident that I’m leaving the party in a strong position and that we are ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.” Mason said a leadership race would help attract “progressively-minded Albertans” to the NDP. Premier David Hancock, who thanked Mason for his service, called the NDP leader “a skilled debater and a tenacious parliamentarian, who was utterly unafraid to stand up for what he believed in and hold the government accountable.”