Ed Stelmach says he will not step down after the spring session; instead he will stay on as premier until September.
He says hanging onto his post until the fall will equal the playing field for all the contenders for his job.
"It gives every candidate equal opportunity to travel to every corner of the province. It gives us the opportunity to sell a lot of memberships and to have a very fair, open, transparent leadership race in the province. It's good for the party, it's good for the province," says Stelmach.
Some political watchers say Stelmach's long goodbye could be a disaster for the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party.
"It is divisive, it's cut throat, and in the conservative way of doing business, it's very, very unpredictable," says Jim Lightbody, a political scientist at the University of Alberta.
Ted Morton is the only person to officially announce he is running for the leadership job and says he can live with Stelmach's decision to stay on for another six months. "It wouldn't have been my recommendation but it's certainly something I can live with. My concern is whoever the next leader is could use the summer to get ready for the fall session and next year's budget," says Morton.
Other prospective candidates for the leadership say the extra time will be used wisely.
"We know there has been a public conversation about whether it should be shorter or longer. What I would say is, it is what it is, and there's certainly benefit for us in that situation," says Alison Redford, the justice minister.
"I think it definitely levels the playing field between all candidates. If I am one myself, or other ones here are, it gives you enough time to raise money and run a campaign," says Jonathan Denis, the housing minister.
