Prominent Toronto MP and former Minister of Public Safety and Immigration Marco Mendicino will not run in the next federal election, CTV News has learned.
Mendicino, who has been Eglinton Lawrence’s riding agent since 2015, said in a lengthy written statement that it was “the right time” for me and my family to retire and that he intended to serve as a mount for the remaining sessions. said. Member of Parliament.
“I have always found the most fulfillment in this job when I am with the community,” Mendicino wrote.
In a statement, Mendicino detailed his work on behalf of the community, but also wrote, “While the job of a legislator is gratifying, it is not always easy.”
“I am opposed to the federal government’s current direction on our foreign policy due to its deteriorating relationship with Israel, its inadequate response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the weakening of our role in Gaza. It’s a well-known fact in the Middle East.
The former minister’s statement goes on to say that there must be “room for different views” in political parties.
“In principle, I have been outspoken in condemning the unfair targeting of the Jewish community, which is subject to a tsunami of anti-Semitism.”
Former Liberal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler lamented Mendicino’s exit from Congress in a brief conversation with CTV News.
“He has been on the front lines of fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred in a principled way,” Kotler said.
“I hope his voice finds other forms of expression.”
In his statement, Mendicino said the councilor has been approached by Toronto residents and community leaders to “continue to play an active leadership role in our city,” and that he has been reaching out to more people about how to do so. He said he welcomes hearing opinions from the public.
Mr. Mendicino’s foray into federal politics attracted attention from the beginning.
He competed for the Liberal nomination in downtown Toronto, running from the Conservative Party to another chamber, facing Eve Adams, who had been supported as the nominee by Liberal leader Justin Trudeau before becoming prime minister.
Mendicino went on to win the nomination, defeating then-Finance Minister Joe Oliver in the 2015 election.
After being re-elected in 2019, Mendicino became Minister of Immigration and then Minister of Public Security in 2021. Under the latter portfolio, Mr. Mendicino oversaw important legislation that faced multiple controversies.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a Liberal Party fundraiser with Liberal MP Marco Mendicino on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, in Toronto. (Chris Young/Canadian Press)
While working in public safety, he led the development of gun control legislation with stakeholders including Toronto Metropolitan University professor Wendy Cukier, co-founder of the Gun Control Coalition. Cukier, who has worked with multiple justice ministers on the case over the decades, told CTV News that Mendicino is “thoughtful and consultative.”
“He understood that the realities across the country were different,” she says. “I saw him as having a nuanced understanding of the technical aspects of the legislation he was trying to develop.”
However, the bill faced some backlash and the portfolio quickly came to the forefront of public attention.
Mr. Mendicino served as Minister of Public Security when the government invoked the state of emergency law during the Freedom Convoy protests in 2022 and when serial killer Paul Bernado was transferred to a medium-security facility in the spring of 2023. This caused a political firestorm in the federal government. government. In the summer of the same year, he was removed from the cabinet and replaced by Dominique Leblanc.
Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino makes a statement while appearing as a witness before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Thursday, June 15, 2023, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
liberals leave politics
Mr Mendicino’s decision to leave federal politics comes after six cabinet ministers, including former housing minister Sean Fraser, recently announced they would not stand in the next election.
The decision comes after a tumultuous few weeks for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Last month, Chrystia Freeland announced she was stepping down as deputy prime minister and finance minister, saying she was at odds with Trudeau over “the best path forward for Canada.”
More than a dozen Liberal MPs have since publicly called on the prime minister to resign. The Ontario and Atlantic caucuses decided to meet and ask similar questions.
All regional Freedom Caucus chairs have scheduled a Zoom meeting tomorrow at 3pm ET to discuss next steps.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poièvre has also called for a vote of no confidence in Trudeau’s government as soon as parliament reconvenes, while NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said in a letter last month that the Liberals “want one more time.” He does not deserve to be given a chance,” and said his party would continue to move a vote of no confidence. “We will table a clear motion of no confidence at the next sitting of the House of Commons.”
In a statement, Mendicino thanked Liberal MPs, former ministers, staff, riding association members, opposition parties and their counterparts in the Senate, whom he “respects and admires.” He did not mention the prime minister in his statement.
With files from CTV’s Judy Trinh and Stephanie Ha
