Veteran Conservative MP Ted Menzies announced Wednesday morning that he is resigning, four months after saying he would not seek re-election in 2015.

Menzies made the announcement over Twitter, saying: “Today I am resigning as MP for Macleod. Thank you to Sandy my family my staff & all who have been a part of this phase of my life #movingon.”

In a statement issued later Wednesday morning, Menzies said the time has come “for me to move on.”

"I am retiring from politics but look forward to another exciting career ahead,” Menzies said. “Thank you all for the opportunity to proudly represent the most beautiful riding in Canada, and for the privilege to represent some of the greatest people I will ever know."

Menzies later told CTV’s Power Play that deciding to step down was “difficult.”

“I’d been thinking about ending my political career and going on to something else,” he said. “I think I’ve got time left for one more interesting career.”

He would not reveal the details of his next career move, however. “Stay tuned,” he said.

In July, Menzies had indicated that he would not run in the next federal election, citing a desire to spend more time in his southern Alberta community.

At the time, he said in a statement that he came to that decision after witnessing what some of his constituents had to endure during the heavy flooding that hit southern Alberta in June.

“Witnessing the effects of the floods across Southern Alberta, and the devastation of High River and other communities, I have decided that it is important for me to be here more often,” he said in his July statement.

“What brought me to Ottawa was a love of community and the desire to help Albertans and Canadians the best way I knew possible.”

Menzies had asked Prime Minister Stephen Harper to remove him from cabinet before his summer cabinet shuffle. Menzies had served most recently as Minister of State for Finance.

In a statement Wednesday morning, Harper thanked Menzies “for his many years of devoted service to his constituents of Macleod in the Parliament of Canada, and for his tremendous contributions to our Government.

“Since his election to the House of Commons, Ted has been a strong voice and advocate for Alberta, and a valued member within our caucus,” Harper said.

Menzies, 61, was a farmer for nearly 30 years before getting into politics. He was first elected as an MP in 2004 and re-elected three more times. He served as parliamentary secretary to a number of ministers, including international trade, before being promoted to Minister of State for Finance.

“In all of these functions, he has earned the highest respect not just of me, but of all his colleagues in Parliament,” the prime minister said. “Ted’s expertise, insight and exemplary work ethic will certainly be missed as our Government continues to work towards providing economic stability and financial security for Canadians.”

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill Wednesday morning, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair called Menzies a “gentleman,” and said he enjoyed serving with him in the House of Commons.

“He’s a dedicated Member of Parliament, he is a model in many regards, and he’s a reminder that there was once such a thing as a progressive Conservative,” Mulcair said.

Menzies told Power Play that he got along with both caucus and opposition colleagues largely because he left personal attacks out of the way he practiced politics.

“I could be partisan, but only in pursuing a policy that I believed in,” he said.

“You can criticize the policies, but always present something that you think is better. Never criticize the person.”

Menzies’ resignation leaves the Conservatives with 160 seats in the House of Commons. The NDP have 100, the Liberals 34, the Bloc Quebecois four, and the Green Party one. There are four independents and five vacancies.