Liberal MP Marco Mendicino will not seek re-election, saying “it's the right time for me and my family”.
The former cabinet minister gave this information in a letter posted on social media on Thursday.
Mendocino wrote that he would serve as MP for the remainder of Toronto's Eglinton-Lawrence parliamentary session, but also reiterated criticism of his government's approach to the Middle East.
“It's no secret that I disagree with the federal government's current direction in our foreign policy — our deteriorating relationship with the State of Israel, our inadequate handling of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and our weak role in the Middle East,” Mendicino wrote.
“As a matter of principle, I have been consistently vocal in my condemnation of the unjust targeting of the Jewish community, which is facing a tidal wave of anti-Semitism.”
In the national post In January, Mendicino and fellow Liberal MP Anthony Housefather chastised Canada for sitting “on the sidelines” in the International Court of Justice case against Israel., Canada “must unequivocally reject claims of genocide.”
Cabinet and Controversy
Mendicino was once a key player in the Liberal cabinet, accepting the immigration file in 2019 and the public safety file in 2021.
His time as Minister of Public Safety, however, saw him embroiled in several controversies.
In the months before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked him out of cabinet in 2023, Mendicino called for his resignation over the transfer of serial killer Paul Bernardo to a medium-security prison.
Mendicino's office told CBC News that his staff knew about the transfer for three months, but didn't notify the minister until after it happened.
Mendicino also held the public safety file through the 2022 Independence Day protests, when the Liberals called for emergency legislation.
He also oversaw the Liberals' controversial gun control legislation, C-21, which groups including gun advocates and indigenous communities warned would ban hunting rifles and shotguns with a broad definition of assault-style weapons.
See | Liberal government 'followed failure' on gun bill amendments, Mendicino says:
The list of liberals not seeking re-election is growing
Mendicino won his seat in 2015 as a political giant killer in Trudeau's first government.
His letter on Thursday refers to his achievements in defeating former Conservative MP Eve Adams for the Liberal nomination and besting then Conservative finance minister Joe Oliver in the polls.
Mendicino writes that serving was “the honor of a lifetime” and “expresses gratitude to my Liberal MP and former cabinet colleagues who respect and admire me.”
He does not mention Trudeau by name.
By bowing out before the next election, Mendicino joins a growing list of at least 30 Liberal MPs who will not seek re-election. That list includes other lawmakers who have served with Trudeau since 2015, as well as other former cabinet ministers.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, Carla Qualtreau, Filomena Tassi, Dan Vandal, Seamus O'Regan, Pablo Rodriguez and Sean Fraser announced they would not seek re-election despite remaining in the Cabinet.
Housing Minister Sean Fraser has announced he is stepping down from his Cabinet role and will not seek re-election, wanting to spend more time with his family.
