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NEW YORK — Sending his strongest signal yet that a provincial election is coming this spring, Premier Jim Prentice insists “the public needs to have a say” on his government’s tough plans to deal with Alberta’s looming fiscal crunch.

In an interview, Prentice said Alberta’s economic problems — caused by oil prices that have plunged to $50 US a barrel — justifies ignoring legislation that sets the next election between March 1 and May 31 of 2016.

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“We are working on a budget that is not a single-year budget, it will be a 10-year fiscal plan, that will have consequences for every single person in the province,” he said on the train taking him from Washington, D.C., to Trenton, N.J.

“If those decisions are as serious as I feel they need to be, Albertans are going to want to have a say. And whoever is the premier, whoever forms the government, needs to know they have the support of Albertans.”

Asked directly to confirm there will be a spring vote, Prentice replied: “I never said that — but people should be ready.”