Devine era minister makes comeback in Alberta byelection

Former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine's attempt at a political comeback in 2004 didn't work, but one of his old cabinet ministers successfully found a seat in a legislature Monday night. It's just not in this province.

Gordon Dirks, who represented the people of Regina-Rosemont from 1982-1986 in Devine'sProgressive Conservative party, won a seat in the Alberta legislature after defeating his opponents for the Calgary-Elbow riding.

Dirks was first elected to the Saskatchewan legislature in 1982. He was the Minister of Social Services and the Minister of Urban Affairs before being defeated in 1986.

In the 1990s, several members of Grant Devine'scaucus were charged for their partin an expense account fraud during his second term in office (1986 - 1991). Eight Tory cabinet ministers were convicted and hundreds of thousands in public money was involved.

Many consider the Devineyears as a bleak period in Saskatchewan politics, marked by scandal and high spending.

Dirks was never implicated in any of the scandal. He moved to Alberta shortly after his 1986 defeat, where he held several high-ranking positions in bible schools and colleges. Dirkslater became a trustee for the Calgary Board of Education before returning to Ambrose University College to take up a senior leadership role.

In September, 2014 - shortly after Alberta premier Jim Prentice won the ProgressiveConservative party leadership - Dirks was asked to serve as Minister of Education, even though he didn't have a seat in the legislature.

That changed Monday, when he defeated his opponents in the Calgary-Elbow riding, which was previously held by ex-Alberta premier Alison Redford.