Former deputy premier Shirley McClellan submitted her letter of resignation Thursday, saying she wants to spend more time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

McClellan, a long-time supporter of former premier Ralph Klein, was first elected as a Conservative MLA in a byelection in 1987 and was re-elected five times as MLA for Drumheller-Stettler.

Shirley McClellan was first elected as a Conservative MLA in a byelection in 1987 and was re-elected five times as MLA for Drumheller-Stettler.
(CBC)

She was in charge of several departments during her career, including rural development, health, international and intergovernmental relations, agriculture and finance. She was also deputy premier under Klein.

But McClellan was not one of Premier Ed Stelmach's first cabinet choices and was demoted to the backbenches.

In her letter to the legislative Speaker Thursday morning, McClellan wrote that she made a commitment to Klein to stay in politics until the party chose a new leader.

Party members picked Stelmach in December. Klein — who represented the riding of Calgary Elbow — and McClellan will both leave office on Monday.

Stelmach has six months to call byelections to fill the vacancies.