Labour Minister O'Regan Quits Cabinet, Won’t Seek Re-election

Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Feb. 17, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan says he is stepping down from cabinet this week and will not be running for his Newfoundland seat in the next federal election.

He will stay on as an MP until the next election.

Mr. O'Regan made the announcement in a July 18 statement posted online. He said it’s been a “great honour” to serve his constituents over the past nine years but that “ultimately, my family comes first.”

“I need to be a better husband, son, uncle, and friend, and this job means, and deserves, a lot of time in order to do it well,” he wrote.

Mr. O'Regan represents the St. John’s South-Mount Pearl riding and was first elected in 2015, when the Liberals took back power from the Conservatives. He joined cabinet in 2017 and held different portfolios since, including natural resources, veterans affairs, and seniors.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Mr. O'Regan’s replacement at a cabinet meeting scheduled for July 19.

Cabinet resignations are not a common occurrence, especially when there are no scandals.

Several other Liberal MPs have announced in recent months they also would be leaving federal politics or not seeking re-election. Among those are once-cabinet ministers Carolyn Bennett and David Lametti, and more recently, MPs Andy Fillmore, John McKay, Wayne Long, and Ken McDonald.

Mr. O'Regan’s resignation and others have come in the wake of the Liberals’ surprise loss to the Tories of the stronghold riding of Toronto-St.Paul’s on June 24. Conservatives have had a strong lead in the polls for an extended period, but the result still came as a shock.

Mr. O'Regan expressed his full support for Mr. Trudeau in his statement, saying he believes he will be regarded as “one of the most consequential and important leaders in our country’s history.”

“His strength, endurance, and vision are unmatched, and they will see us through the next election,” he said.

Mr. O'Regan also praised efforts by the federal government to lower green house gas emissions and help develop renewables, but said it can only be done by cooperation between various stakeholders and by keeping affordability “top of mind.”

Mr. Trudeau announced a carbon tax pause on home heating oil last fall while facing protests from MPs from the Atlantic region, where this form of heating is more prevalent.

“We’ve heard clearly from Atlantic Canadians through our amazing Atlantic MPs that since the federal pollution price came into force, … certain features of that pollution price needed adjusting to work for everyone,” Mr. Trudeau said last October while announcing the measure.

Mr. O'Regan said he’s proud that his government delivered more for Newfoundland and Labrador “since Confederation itself.”