(Ottawa) Three New Democratic MPs in Ottawa, including veteran Charlie Angus, jointly announced Thursday that they would not run again in the next federal election.
Charlie Angus, an Ontario MP for 20 years in Ottawa, first confirmed his intention to leave federal politics earlier Thursday morning.
His colleagues Carol Hughes and Rachel Blaney made the same announcement later Thursday in a joint statement. The three New Democratic MPs explain that they want to spend more time with their families, after having devoted years to public service.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE NDP
Carol Hughes
A new redrawing of the electoral map also pushed some to leave active federal politics.
Mr. Angus’s riding of Timmins—James Bay in northern Ontario will expand this month, and the MP says it will take a lot of energy to maintain connections with voters of so many of remote communities.
Carol Hughes, who has been assistant vice-president of the House of Commons since 2015, will see her riding of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, in northern Ontario, completely disappear during the next federal election.
As for Rachel Blaney, who has been party whip since 2019, she believes it is time to focus more time on her family and stay closer to home. Mme Blaney has been the Member of Parliament for North Island—Powell River, British Columbia, since 2015.
In a written statement, New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh thanked his three colleagues for their years of activism and contributions to the NDP.
Nearly a quarter of NDP MPs in Ottawa have announced they are preparing to step down, or have already done so.
Despite political gains made through a political pact with the minority Liberal government, the NDP has so far struggled to translate its efforts to establish national drug and dental care plans into popular support.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, are coveting NDP seats in British Columbia and northern Ontario by campaigning on the rising cost of living and opposing federal pricing on pollution.
The next federal election must take place no later than October 20, 2025.