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Alberta changing its U.S. representative, wants to move in different direction

Rob Merrifield delivers a speech at the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany, on May 26, 2010. Premier Jim Prentice shook up Alberta's trade offices Wednesday, hiring Conservative MP Rob Merrifield and tossing overboard Gary Mar, former premier Alison Redford's Asia representative.
Rob Merrifield delivers a speech at the International Transport Forum in Leipzig, Germany, on May 26, 2010. Premier Jim Prentice shook up Alberta's trade offices Wednesday, hiring Conservative MP Rob Merrifield and tossing overboard Gary Mar, former premier Alison Redford's Asia representative. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Gero Breloer

EDMONTON – Alberta’s new NDP government is changing its senior representative to the United States, saying it wants to move in a new direction.

Former Conservative MP Rob Merrifield was to do the job until Sept. 16, 2018, but is to leave at the end of the month.

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The government says a replacement for Merrifield, who was appointed last year by former premier Jim Prentice, would be named soon.

A spokeswoman for Premier Rachel Notley’s office says Merrifield has a contract that does not include severance.

Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier is to take over some of Merrifield’s work in the interim, including efforts to persuade Washington to repeal its meat labelling law known as COOL that has hurt Canada’s beef and pork industries.

In a written statement Notley thanks Merrifield for his public service.

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