Kelvin Parsons resigns as Dwight Ball's chief of staff

Kelvin Parsons has resigned as Premier Dwight Ball's chief of staff.

• Premier Dwight Ball's deputy chief of staff resigns

The premier's office confirmed for CBC News that Parsons, who served as justice minister and attorney general under the previous Liberal government, is no longer running Ball's office.

The resignation was effective as of June 30, and plans for a replacement are "to be determined," according to the premier's office.

He served as chief of staff to Ball when the premier was opposition leader.

Parsons's son, Andrew Parsons, is the Minister of Justice and Public Safety.

He is the second top official to resign from Ball's office since the fall provincial election.

Tim Murphy, who was Ball's deputy chief of staff, resigned in May.

A spokesperson for the premier's office said at the time Murphy found the political role "wasn't for him" and it was "not the sort of challenge he was looking for right now."

There is no immediate word on why Parsons resigned or who will take over the role.

Parsons will receive $12,021 in severance, based on service since 2011. If he had been fired, the payout would have beenlarger.

Last month, long-time Liberal Greg Mercer was brought in to the premier's office as a senior strategist.

• Dwight Ball confirms Greg Mercer hired in 'senior role'

At the time, Ball denied that Mercer would replace Parsons.

Multiple sources told CBC News Mercer was initially offered, and accepted, the chief of staff job. He was given a mandate toreform the government's political operations and the top ranks of the civil service, sources said at the time.

However, sources said, the premier's office didn't developa clear exit strategy for the existing chief of staff. Parsons didn't want to leave and Ball wasn't willing to fire him.