Ministers Glover and Paradis will not seek re-election

Minister of International Development Christian Paradis and Heritage Minister Shelly Glover are seen in this compilation photo. (Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Long-time cabinet ministers Christian Paradis and Shelly Glover have announced they will not seek re-election.

Paradis, Minister of International Development, announced his decision on his website.

In a statement written in French, the 41-year-old called the decision personal and cited the need to spend more time with his family after a decade in politics.

Paradis said he’s proud of the government’s achievements, including “a strong economy,” and his contributions to harmonizing taxes, helping small businesses and improving rules for the aerospace industry.

“In politics, the guys who accomplish nothing are never criticized,” he said. “In private, in public and in Ottawa, I always defended what I considered right,” he added.

Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages Shelly Glover has also said she is not seeking re-election, citing family reasons in a statement.

“This past 18 months has been particularly difficult for me and my family as we have dealt with some very serious health issues while I was away from home,” she said.

Glover, who served for 19 years with the Winnipeg Police Service, said she entered politics 10 years ago, “to better protect our streets and communities, to give victims a stronger voice and to ensure that offenders are held to account.”

Glover said she is proud to have served in a government that passed more than 30 crime bills, including one that ended “2 for 1 credit in sentencing,” another that scrapped the “wasteful and ineffective long gun registry” and those ensured “tougher penalties for serious offences.”

Glover says she will return to work in policing.

“We live in the greatest country in the world, where a young pregnant teenager from a broken home can strive to help others and become a woman sitting at the Cabinet table making decisions that impact all of our lives,” she added.

The PMO issued a statement thanking Paradis and Glover, “for their years of service to their communities and their country.”

“We fully understand their desire to spend more time with their families and wish them well,” it reads.

The ministers will continue to serve in their cabinet roles for the time being, according to their statements.

Glover was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008. She has previously served as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance. She now represents the riding of Saint Boniface in Manitoba.

Paradis was first elected an MP in 2006. He has previously served as Minister of State (Agriculture), Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister of Industry. He represents the Quebec riding of Mégantic-L’Érable.

Paradis is among only five Conservative MPs currently sitting in the House of Commons from Quebec, where there are currently 75 seats.

Long-time cabinet minister John Baird also stepped down in February, and was recently appointed advisor to Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp.