A A

Premier Stephen McNeil is backtracking on his pledge to call immediate byelections for three Tory ridings whose MLAs are resigning at the end of the month.

“I’ll call the byelections when we're ready,” said the premier, responding to questions from reporters on Thursday.

The premier said last month that once the three MLAs, who will be running in the upcoming federal election, resigned he would announce byelections immediately after to ensure those residents had representation for the upcoming fall sitting.

But the premier suggested that the MLAs delayed their decision, making it difficult for him to time byelections with the federal election looming.

“But we’ll continue to make sure our party is ready in ridings,” said McNeil.

MLAs Chris d’Entremont, who represents Argyle-Barrington, Eddie Orrell (Northside-Westmount) and Alfie MacLeod (Sydney River-Mira-Louisbourg) will officially resign July 31.

Tory leader Tim Houston said the premier should stick to his word and call a byelection on Aug 1, “like he’s promised Nova Scotians.”

“The premier has indicated that those constituencies would not go without representation, that he would ensure that Nova Scotians would have representation,” said Houston.

RELATED: Three of Nova Scotia’s PC MLAs resign to run in federal election