Justice Minister Virani Won’t Seek Re-election

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani speaks during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa regarding the new online harms bill, on Feb. 26, 2024. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Justice Minister Arif Virani said he won’t be running in the next election, citing the toll of political life on his family.

Virani said in a Feb. 10 statement he will continue to serve as MP for the Toronto riding of Parkdale-High Park until the next election, and that he will continue on as minister “for as along as I have the privilege to serve.”

The decision came as the result of “considerable soul searching for the past several weeks,” Virani said. The minister said his family has allowed him to pursue his dreams and serve the country and it is now his turn to “give back to the people I love the most.”

Virani was first elected in his Toronto riding in 2015. He entered cabinet during a major shuffle in July 2023, which saw the incumbent Justice Minister David Lametti losing a ministerial post. Lametti later quit federal politics.

One of Virani’s consequential pieces of legislation was Bill C-63, the Online Harms Act, which died on the order paper with the prorogation of Parliament. Along with increasing protection for children online, the bill sought to create stiff penalties for online speech offences.

Virani has also overseen the development of Canada’s “Black Justice Strategy,” which Ottawa describes as an anti-racism measure to reduce the overrepresentation of black individuals in the criminal justice system.

Virani’s announcement about his future comes on the heels of another minister announcing she will not seek re-election. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, who was in charge of the tourism portfolio, said last week she intends to run for Montreal mayor.

Martinez Ferrada was immediately replaced, with her responsibilities being handed over to Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge.

Replacing Virani as justice minister and attorney general, a key role in cabinet, is more complicated and could require a shuffle.

Whereas Martinez Ferrada would have faced tough odds to get re-elected in her Montreal riding, Virani’s seat is projected as “leaning” towards the Liberal Party by polling aggregator 338Canada. The Liberals currently lead the NDP in voting intentions with 39 percent compared to 34 percent, and have a 78 percent chance of winning the riding.

The date of the next general election is uncertain, given opposition parties have pledged to topple the government and Parliament is currently prorogued. The Liberal leadership race could also lead to the instalment of a rare unelected prime minister under the scenario of a win by former central banker Mark Carney, who could ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament to launch an early election.

Virani’s announcement came a few weeks after he endorsed his former cabinet colleague Chrystia Freeland in the Liberal Party leadership race.

Virani is part of a handful of ministers to have endorsed Freeland, with some of the others being Health Minister Mark Holland and International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen.

Carney has received most of the endorsements from ministers, including from Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, Defence Minister Bill Blair, and Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.