The Manitoba legislature has wrapped up a brief fall sitting and is now on break while the governing Progressive Conservatives pick a new leader.

       Politicians sat well into the evening Thursday as bills were passed to implement the spring budget.

       The legislature normally resumes in mid-November but deputy premier Rochelle Squires says the timing will be up to the next premier.

       Heather Stefanson, a former health minister, and Shelly Glover, a former Conservative member of Parliament, are running to replace Brian Pallister who retired last month.

       The Tories will choose their new leader on Oct. 30 by mail-in ballot.

       Squires says the new premier will also decide the timing of a byelection in Pallister’s former seat, the Fort Whyte constituency in Winnipeg.

       Under provincial law, empty seats must be filled within six months.

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