Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan has announced he will not run in the next federal election, and will be quitting his cabinet position Friday.
O’Regan made the announcement in a social media post Thursday, after CTV News reported the high-profile, longtime Liberal is leaving politics for personal reasons.
“It never seems to be the right time,” O’Regan said in an interview on CTV News Channel. “There’s always something happening, there’s a lot of news, there’s a lot going on these days, but eventually, at some point, (my husband and I) had to make this decision, and we felt that this was the right time.”
O’Regan intends to stay on as an MP until the next election.
“These were difficult decisions. Being chosen as MP in three elections over nine years by the people of this riding has been a great honour,” he wrote.
“But, ultimately, my family comes first,” he added. “I need to be a better husband, son, uncle, and friend, and this job means, and deserves, a lot of time in order to do it well.”
O’Regan informed the prime minister of his decision to step away from politics on Canada Day, sources tell CTV News.
“Regardless of which side you’re on, we need good people in politics,” O’Regan told CTV News Channel. “I felt that we had a good run at it. For me and for my husband, we had a good run for nine years.”
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, O’Regan’s replacement will be sworn in at Rideau Hall on Friday.
As reported by CTV News on Wednesday, cabinet is also set to meet Friday morning.
“I’ll miss working with this Prime Minister,” O’Regan wrote. “I believe he’ll be regarded as one of the most consequential and important leaders in our country’s history. His strength, endurance and vision are unmatched, and they will see us through the next election.”