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Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd says Albertans should not be alarmed by the sudden departure of her deputy minister.

The Energy Minister said Grant Sprague is leaving on his own volition Friday and plans are already being made to hire a new deputy minister.

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“They will find me a good replacement,” she said. “He has prepared me well for my ministry. I feel pretty confident now.”

Assistant deputy minister Cynthia Farmer will take over as acting deputy minister until a permanent replacement is found, she said.

McCuaig-Boyd said Sprague’s departure will leave “a gap” in her ministry.

“I wish the best. I’ll miss him,” she said. “He was a great DM.”

The Energy Minister rejected speculation Sprague left the government allegedly because his advice regarding the termination of power purchase arrangements (PPAs) was disregarded when the NDP government launched its climate change plan.

She said she will have more to say about the PPA situation soon.