Prime Minister Stephen Harper's director of communications, Kory Teneycke, has confirmed that he is planning to step down from his post, just as speculation ratchets up about a possible fall election.
It is not clear exactly when Teneycke will vacate his post, but it will be "very soon," according to Â鶹´«Ã½ Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife.
Teneycke's departure means the prime minister will have to find someone new to control and shape his messaging as he prepares his strategy, should the opposition parties force an election this fall.
"(Teneycke) has only been with the prime minister's office for just over a year, but he's a very, very shrewd, savvy political operator and very good at dealing with the media," Fife told Â鶹´«Ã½ Channel on Tuesday.
Fife said Teneycke has a young family and so would like to find a job that is less demanding on his time.
"The hours working for the prime minister are very long and it's basically 24/7," Fife said.
Teneycke took over from Sandra Buckler, who often clashed with parliamentary reporters.
He had previously worked as executive director of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, lobbying for ethanol and biodiesel, a post he left to work in the Conservative research bureau.
The Tories are on the second of two days of election training at an Ottawa hotel, which will be followed by a caucus meeting on Wednesday.
