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Premier Rachel Notley’s chief of staff is leaving after nine months on the job.

John Heaney, who took over for Brian Topp in December, is leaving the post and returning to his British Columbia home.

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He will be replaced by Nathan Rotman, who is currently director of issues management in Notley’s office.

Heaney has deep roots with the B.C. NDP, but he said in an interview he’s departing to spend more time with his wife and two children, who have remained in B.C. during his Edmonton tenure, and he won’t take a post in John Horgan’s new government.

While he served less than a year as Notley’s chief of staff, Heaney had been part of Alberta’s NDP government since it took office in 2015, first as a member of the transition team and then as the premier’s deputy minister for the policy co-ordination office.

“I’ve been a four-day-a-month dad and husband all that time with my family in Victoria. And when I look at them now, I’m just not prepared to make that sacrifice anymore,” said Heaney, who plans to resume his law practice.