Andrea Janus, CTVNews.ca Published Thursday, March 20, 2014 6:31AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, March 20, 2014 5:21PM EDT

Saying its been a strange day or two, Dave Hancock reassured Albertans Thursday that their Progressive Conservative government was moving forward, after his caucus selected him to be their interim leader and the provinces premier.

The five-term MLA was handed the post less than 24 hours after Alison Redford announced that she will step down effective Sunday. Redford had struggled to contain a caucus revolt and plummeting poll numbers.

Hancock gives a government in turmoil a steady, experienced hand. He is a five-term MLA who has served in cabinet posts such as health and education. Redford named him deputy premier during her most recent cabinet shuffle a few months ago.

Its been a strange day or two, but Im humbled and privileged to have the confidence of caucus to provide leadership for the government as we go forward, Hancock told reporters Thursday.

We will be providing the government that Albertans want and expect, (that) they elected us to do.

The government will get to work passing the recently tabled provincial budget and will move forward with other items on the spring legislative agenda, Hancock said. It will also not abandon the Building Alberta fund, a massive infrastructure project that includes hospitals, schools and roads, Hancock vowed.

Redford stepped down during a brief but emotional press conference at the Alberta legislature Wednesday night following months of growing voter outrage over what they perceived to be lavish travel spending, including a $45,000 trip to Nelson Mandelas funeral.

In recent days, two PC MLAs stepped down from caucus over leadership and other concerns.

Quite simply, I am not prepared to allow party and caucus infighting to get in the way of building a better future for our province and for all Albertans, Redford said Wednesday night. And that is why I am announcing today that with a profound optimism for Albertas future, I am resigning as premier of Alberta, effective this Sunday.

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Redford's replacement Dave Hancock promises 'government Albertans want'

OTTAWA Jim Flahertys resignation from cabinet Tuesday marks the end of a tumultuous eight years as finance minister and leaves Prime Minister Stephen Harper scrambling to find a replacement in the governments most important portfolio. Harper was expected to name a new finance minister on Wednesday.

The 64-year-old Flaherty made the bombshell announcement Tuesday barely a month after tabling his latest federal budget, which projected the federal government would balance the books in 2015-16.

The resignation comes shortly after Flaherty openly questioned the wisdom of the governments plan to introduce income-splitting for families, a position that placed him at odds with other cabinet ministers and even Harper.

But the man sometimes tagged with the unflattering nickname Deficit Jim wont even be in government to watch the Conservatives get back into black ink. Nor will he be in cabinet to push through legislation enacting his own most recent budget.

His resignation from cabinet is effective immediately, but his office said he will stay on as MP for Whitby-Oshawa for the time being.

Flaherty is the only finance minister the Harper government has ever known; he was appointed to the post when the Conservatives won power in 2006.

He is widely credited by political observers and many economists as the steady economic hand who helped the government fight its way back from the depths of the recession to the verge of a balanced budget.

Yet by the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year, under Flahertys watch, the government will have added $150 billion more to the federal debt than was there at the beginning of the economic downturn in 2008.

Opposition parties have highlighted the mounting deficits and federal debt as examples of how Flahertys economic record isnt nearly as strong as the government trumpets.

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Deficit Jim Flaherty, credited as steady finance minister, resigns

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Jim Flaherty is leaving the federal cabinet after more than eight years as finance minister to prepare for a return to the private sector, saying the move is unrelated to his recent health problems.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to name his replacement Wednesday.

Flaherty, who delivered his final budget last month, said he made the decision with his family earlier this year.

As I begin another chapter in my life, I leave feeling fulfilled with what we have accomplished as a government and a country during one of the most challenging economic periods in our countrys history, he said in a statement.

An official in the Prime Ministers Office said Flaherty would be retaining at least for now his seat in the House of Commons, meaning he remains an MP for the time being.

Flaherty is among Canadas longest-serving finance ministers, appointed to the key economic post when the Conservative government first came to power in 2006.

He managed the countrys economy through one of its worst economic crises in 2008-2009, running up large deficits but leaving the books virtually balanced after his Feb. 11 budget.

Speculation about Flahertys future has risen in recent years after he acknowledged suffering from a rare skin condition, requiring him to take medication that led to weight gain and apparent fatigue in public appearances.

His long farewell message to Canadians, delivered unexpectedly on a government website, listed accomplishments such as cooling the housing market and introducing tax-free savings accounts.

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Flaherty steps down as finance minister

OTTAWA Jim Flahertys resignation from cabinet Tuesday marks the end of a tumultuous eight years as finance minister and leaves Prime Minister Stephen Harper scrambling to find a replacement in the governments most important portfolio. Harper was expected to name a new finance minister on Wednesday.

The 64-year-old Flaherty made the bombshell announcement Tuesday barely a month after tabling his latest federal budget, which projected the federal government would balance the books in 2015-16.

The resignation comes shortly after Flaherty openly questioned the wisdom of the governments plan to introduce income-splitting for families, a position that placed him at odds with other cabinet ministers and even Harper.

But the man sometimes tagged with the unflattering nickname Deficit Jim wont even be in government to watch the Conservatives get back into black ink. Nor will he be in cabinet to push through legislation enacting his own most recent budget.

His resignation from cabinet is effective immediately, but his office said he will stay on as MP for Whitby-Oshawa for the time being.

Flaherty is the only finance minister the Harper government has ever known; he was appointed to the post when the Conservatives won power in 2006.

He is widely credited by political observers and many economists as the steady economic hand who helped the government fight its way back from the depths of the recession to the verge of a balanced budget.

Yet by the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year, under Flahertys watch, the government will have added $150 billion more to the federal debt than was there at the beginning of the economic downturn in 2008.

Opposition parties have highlighted the mounting deficits and federal debt as examples of how Flahertys economic record isnt nearly as strong as the government trumpets.

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty resigns, will return to private sector

OTTAWA Prime Minister Stephen Harpers government is suddenly staring political uncertainty in the face after the loss of its rock in cabinet.

Jim Flaherty was the only finance minister Harpers governing Tories ever knew. He delivered 10 budgets for the government and guided the country through the 2008-09 recession.

And now, just a year before the next election, Harper must pick a replacement and hope that person carries the same message of credibility to both voters and the markets.

Flaherty is leaving the federal treasury with a looming surplus of $6.4 billion in 2015-16 after several years of being in the red.

At the same time, he has stirred up a debate over whether the Tories unfulfilled promise from the last election of income-splitting for families is solid policy or a bad move for Canadian society.

The next finance minister will have less than a year to craft a budget that Harpers Tories can bring into the next campaign as their ticket to re-election.

CBC and CTV News reported Tuesday night that the next finance minister will be Joe Oliver, who currently holds the natural resources portfolio. The announcement will be made Wednesday.

Harpers choice among existing cabinet ministers there is no obvious standout successor in the wings could have political ramifications right up to voting day, on Oct. 19, 2015.

By the same token, it could either scare investors about the steadiness of Harpers economic policies, or provide a dollop of relief that there is no major change in the wind.

It is an important development, BMO Capital Markets chief economist Doug Porter said Tuesday of the resignation.

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Flahertys departure spells political uncertainty for Stephen Harper

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is resigning from the federal cabinet and will be returning to the private sector.

In a statement released Tuesday by his office, Mr. Flaherty said it is a decision that he made with his family earlier this year. Mr. Flaherty said his goal was always to get Canada back on track toward a balanced budget, a goal he said was achieved with last months budget. (Read the statement)

BNN Video Mar. 18 2014, 5:16 PM EDT

Mr. Flaherty has been finance minister since Stephen Harper first became Prime Minister in 2006.

Now, I will focus on life beyond politics as I return to the private sector. I believe that I have served my country, province and constituents of Whitby-Oshawa to the best of my abilities and thank them for their continued trust and support for almost two decades. It has been an honour to serve Canadians with the prime minister, cabinet and caucus colleagues and all Members of Parliament in the House of Commons, he said.

As many of you know, I faced a health issue over this past year. I have received much support and good wishes from Canadians across the country and for that, I am thankful. I am happy to report that I am on the road to a full recovery and the decision to leave politics was not related in any way to my health. This decision was made because it is the right one for me and my family at this time.

Mr. Harper issued a statement praising Mr. Flahertys record in office.

On behalf of cabinet, Members of Parliament and all Canadians, I thank Minister Flaherty for his long and dedicated service to his constituents and to Canada. We wish him and his family well as he begins the transition to private life, said Mr. Harper.

The government will announce a new finance minister Wednesday, sources say.

Sources say the next finance minister, whos already been chosen, will be somebody with impressive credentials and whos very capable.

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Finance Minister Jim Flaherty resigns from cabinet

Canadian Press photo

Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty

OTTAWA Jim Flaherty is leaving the federal cabinet after more than eight years as finance minister to prepare for a return to the private sector, saying the move is unrelated to his recent health problems.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to name his replacement Wednesday.

Flaherty, who delivered his final budget last month, said he made the decision with his family earlier this year.

CLICK HERE TO READ A STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER ON THE RESIGNATION OF JIM FLAHERTY

As I begin another chapter in my life, I leave feeling fulfilled with what we have accomplished as a government and a country during one of the most challenging economic periods in our countrys history, he said in a statement.

An official in the Prime Ministers Office said Flaherty would be retaining at least for now his seat in the House of Commons, meaning he remains an MP for the time being.

Flaherty is among Canadas longest-serving finance ministers, appointed to the key economic post when the Conservative government first came to power in 2006.

Excerpt from:
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty resigns from politics, heading to private sector

OTTAWAToronto MP Joe Oliver will become Canadas next finance minister, replacing Jim Flaherty who made the surprise announcement Tuesday that he was quitting his long tenure atop the economic portfolio.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was expected to confirm Wednesday that Oliver who is the natural resources minister would be tapped to take over in finance.

It would be a dramatic promotion for the relative newcomer to politics. Oliver, who represents the Toronto riding of EglintonLawrence, was elected in just 2011.

But Oliver, who holds a business degree from Harvard, boasts an impressive resum in the financial sector that includes time as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch, executive director of the Ontario Securities Commission and president and CEO of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada.

One Conservative strategist suggested Tuesday that Oliver, with experience in McGill law, Harvard MBA, securities regulation and Bay St. credentials, would be a solid pick.

He really has the whole package, the source told the Star. His (appointment) will not scare the horses.

As natural resources minister, hes been in the spotlight as the governments point man behind initiatives to build pipelines west across the Rockies and south into the United States to move oilsands crude oil out of Alberta.

But Harper now appears poised to give Oliver a new challenge as his finance minister, according to CBC and CTV, which both reported on his pending new cabinet assignment Tuesday night.

Flaherty, the outspoken MP from WhitbyOshawa, leaves cabinet following eight years in the key economic portfolio.

He has been battling a skin ailment that affected his appearance and often left observers wondering if the demanding finance post was too much for him in his condition. But he said he is stepping down from finance for family reasons.

Link:
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty quits cabinet

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to restrict traffic to one lane on the US 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge during daylight hours starting Wednesday, March 19, according to Keith Todd, Public Information officer for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's District One and Two.

The lane restriction is to allow concrete patching on the bridge deck.

The US 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge is at US 68 Marshall County mile point 28.146 and Trigg County mile point 0.0 at the western entrance to Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area.

Todd said the KYTC District 1 Bridge Crew will be using high strength concrete to patch the deck driving surface. Due to the time required for concrete to cure by the end of the day, the work is expected to take about a week to complete.

Motorists should be prepared to encounter one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers from about 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m., CDT, each weekday, whenever weather allows. Motorists be alert for slowing and stopped traffic on the bridge approaches. Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and mainteance personnel are on the bridge deck in close proximity to traffic flow, he added.

The existing Eggners Ferry Bridge opened to traffic in March 1932. It carries approximately 2800 vehicles across Kentucky Lake/The Tennessee River in an average day.

A 322 ft. span of the Eggners Ferry Bridge was struck and knocked into Kentucky Lake by the 8200 ton Cargo Ship Delta Mariner on the night of January 26, 2012. KYTC engineers developed plans to rebuild the missing span and restore traffic to the bridge in 17 weeks.

Work has already started on construction of a replacement bridge immediately downstream from the existing Eggners Ferry Bridge. Work on a bridge across a lagoon and earthen causeways for the new lake crossing are nearing completion. Work on a new $131.5 million Basket Handle Arch main river crossing at the site is expected to start in a matter of weeks. For more information go to http://www.lakebridges.com.

The existing Eggners Ferry Bridge is at Tennessee River navigation mile point 41.7 near Aurora.

Excerpt from:
Lane restriction scheduled for Eggners Ferry Bridge

President Barack Obamas nominee to become the next Surgeon General, Vivek Hallergere Murthy, appears unlikely to be confirmed for the post on Monday. A CNN panel confirmed that even Senate Democrats are wary of voting to confirm Murthy because, as CNN anchor John King put it, his only crime is he agrees with the president and the National Rifle Association opposes his nomination. King asked if Obamas cabinet is now in the midst of a hostage crisis with the NRA as captors.

King began by noting that Republicans are being joined by a number of Democrats openly opposing Murthys nomination. Dr. Murthys crime is he agrees with the president that you need more gun controls, King observed. He cant get a vote because the National Rifle Association has served notice it will punish anybody who supports him.

RELATED: Rapper Ice-T Defends Gun Rights After Colorado Shooting: The Last Form Of Defense Against Tyranny

Why walk the plank if youre a red state Democrat when the NRA is actually scoring this vote? asked POLITICOs Manu Raju. [Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid (D-NV) wants to protect his vulnerable Democrats in tough races.

The question is, if youre in the Obama cabinet, is it now a hostage crisis? King asked. And you cant lead because you cant get your replacement confirmed?

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CNN: Hostage Crisis in Obamas Cabinet as NRA Set to Block Surgeon General Nominee?