Cook Aiming To Replace Beatty In Legislature

Cook Aiming To Replace Beatty In Legislature

Friday, January 04, 2008 at 14:55

A northerner who hopes to replace Joan Beatty in the provincial legislature says her jump to the federal Liberals is surprising — even though it was rumoured as far back as the recent provincial election campaign.

Earl Cook has announced his intention to secure the NDP nomination in the eventual by-election in the provincial Cumberland riding Beatty is vacating.

Cook might be best known for running for the NDP in the 2004 federal election in northern Saskatchewan — a vote that saw him finish third.

He says he started thinking about this when it was first rumoured Beatty might jump to federal politics.

Cook is disappointed Beatty is making this call so soon after being re-elected provincially, but notes this isn’t new territory for the NDP — a reference to former northern Saskatchewan MP Rick Laliberte’s defection to the Liberals.

Cook isn’t sure who else might be interested in the NDP nomination in Cumberland — but believes whoever the candidate turns out to be will have a good chance to re-capture it for the NDP.