New Democrat MP and Deputy Speaker Denise Savoie announced her retirement from politics Thursday, citing a desire to return to private life and a health warning from her doctor.
Savoie will be resigning her House of Commons seat on Aug. 31.
The 69-year-old MP announced her resignation from her Victoria constituency office where she was accompanied by NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair.
“After 6 years in the House of Commons and nearly 13 years as an elected official, I have decided to return to private life,” said Savoie in a written release.
“My doctor gave me a health warning this spring and recommended that I adopt a more balanced lifestyle, without the travel and physical demands of the job of an MP from Western Canada. I am therefore resigning as the Member of Parliament for Victoria,” she said.
Mulcair thanked Savoie for her valuable contributions to the NDP and said she would be missed by all.
“Denise is a leader in our caucus with her passionate commitment to sustainability and protecting our environment and her focus on cross-party cooperation on issues of common concern. She will be missed by all of her colleagues regardless of political affiliation,” Mulcair said in the release.
Savoie said she is proud of her accomplishments as an MP, including securing funding for the Johnson Street Bridge and sewage treatment, as well as introducing legislation to help create a national child care program and banning tankers from coastal waters.
Savoie was first elected to the House of Commons in 2006, becoming the first woman to be elected as MP from Victoria.
In 2011, Savoie was appointed Deputy Speaker.
Following Savoie’s departure, the NDP will be left with 101 seats.
