Canadian emergency preparedness minister Harjit Sajjan has announced Wednesday that he will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming federal elections.
The former army veteran shared his decision on social media, expressing gratitude to the Vancouver South community for their support and for instilling in him the values of service, commitment and integrity.
Sajjan’s departure comes as more than two dozen Liberal MPs, including several ministers, opt out of the next campaign amid challenging polling numbers for the party. He emphasised his ongoing dedication to the Liberal party even though he will not be on the ballot when Canadians head to the polls, which must occur before mid-October but is anticipated to take place this spring.
Reflecting on his nearly ten years in office, Sajjan thanked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his leadership and highlighted the achievements of the government during his tenure. He also called for a return to civility in political discourse, expressing concern over the increasingly toxic and polarised political climate marked by aggressive rhetoric and threats.
This environment, he noted, significantly affects not only politicians but also the well-being of future generations. “We can and must find our way back to civility by embracing respect for each other”, Sajjan added.
As per CBC News, Sajjan has held multiple cabinet positions since being elected in 2015, including minister of defence and minister of international development. His time in office was marked by challenges, particularly regarding his handling of military sexual misconduct allegations, which led to significant criticism and a formal censure in the House of Commons.
In recent weeks, Sajjan has shown support for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, endorsing him for the Liberal leadership, according to the Canadian Press.
Sajjan’s announcement follows others from former cabinet members like Seamus O’Regan and Carla Qualtrough, who have also decided not to run again.
