A former speaker of Saskatchewan’s Legislative Assembly is stepping away from politics.
Mark Docherty, the Saskatchewan Party MLA for Regina Coronation Park, announced Monday that he’s resigning his seat effective Friday.
“It has been an honour to serve the people of Coronation Park as a member of their Saskatchewan Party government for the past 11 years and to see the tremendous growth and progress in our city and our province during that time,” Docherty said in a media release.
“Serving and building community are at the heart of who I am and I look forward to continuing that important work in new ways.”
According to the release, a byelection will be held within six months to replace Docherty.
Docherty was first elected in 2011 and then re-elected in 2016 and 2020. He was the minister of parks, culture and sport from 2014 to 2016, and then served as speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2018 to 2020.
In the release, Premier Scott Moe thanked Docherty for his service.
“Mark is a tremendously sincere and empathetic MLA who cares deeply about his community and its people,” Moe said in the release. “I will miss the passion and compassion Mark brings to our caucus discussions.”