Progressive Conservative Leader Jim Prentice says he has confidence in Jonathan Denis as the Tory candidate for Calgary-Acadia, despite the former justice minister's resignation from the ministerial post on Saturday.

Denis said in a release his resignation stemmed from a "court action involving a personal family matter."

Prentice called the legal proceedings "a private matter" between Denis and his estranged wife.

"It's not appropriate for anyone to serve as minister of justice and the attorney general when they have legal proceedings or when they are party to legal proceedings that are before the court," Prentice said.

The minister of justice and the attorney general are responsible for the enforcement and administration of justice in the province and Prentice said the minister cannot be a private litigant while serving in the position.

"I'm pretty firm on this," Prentice said. "These are rules and as far as I'm concerned and before I ask anyone to take the position of attorney general and minister of justice, I would want and have in the past, made sure that they are not involved in any litigation."

Prentice said Denis will press ahead as the candidate for Calgary-Acadia. A recent poll showed that Denis was tied with the NDP in the riding, with both parties polling behind the Wildrose candidate.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley also weighed in on Denis's resignation, saying for now, it would seem alright for the Calgary-Acadia candidate to continue his campaign.

"At this point, what I know is that it's not appropriate that he carry on as attorney general," Notley said. "The issue becomes whether he resigned soon enough. That would have implications on whether he ought to still be running."