ottawa –
Housing Minister Sean Fraser has said he will not stand in the next federal election because he needs to spend more time with his family.
Fraser made the announcement Monday morning at a press conference in Ottawa ahead of a cabinet meeting and the fall economic statement.
His announcement comes after Chrystia Freeland also announced that she would be stepping down from her cabinet post as finance minister.
He said he came to this decision several months ago while recovering from back surgery and spending more time at home with his children.
“My children aren’t getting any younger and they’re going to need a father,” he said.
“Our journey to starting a family has been difficult. We’ve experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows,” Fraser said, her voice breaking into the microphone. “We have experienced premature babies, long hospital stays and medical interventions, and we know the pain of losing our one-day-old daughter Ruth. We miss her every day and love her so much.”
Fraser is seeking leadership after the Nova Scotia Liberal Party suffered a landslide defeat in last month’s provincial election, holding just two seats, the minimum required to maintain official party status. He dismissed questions that suggested that it might be the case.
But he didn’t rule it out.
“Today is not about a transition to some new political opportunity. It’s about a transition opportunity to be a father who is more available to his children,” he said.
Mr Fraser joins a growing list of ministers to withdraw from federal politics.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to chair a cabinet meeting on Monday.
Fraser had been a frequent target of Tory attacks over the government’s handling of immigration and housing files, but was seen as a strong communicator and rising star in the Liberal Party.
Mr Fraser said he intends to continue working in politics, but in what capacity remains to be seen, and today’s announcement is not about a move to another political post.
Fraser was first elected to the Nova Scotia Liberal Party seat representing Central Nova in 2015 and quickly rose through the ranks to become a cabinet minister.
He held several parliamentary positions before being appointed Minister of Immigration in 2021.
During his time in office, the government significantly increased immigration eligibility, relaxing the rules of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and admitting rapidly increasing numbers of international students.
Concerns were raised by critics that high population growth was eroding housing affordability and straining services, and political pressure ultimately forced the government to reverse many of these policies. It’s gone.
Two years later, Fraser was selected as a candidate for the housing file as the Liberal Party sought to tackle the national housing crisis, which had become a major political responsibility for the government.
Rumors are swirling on Parliament Hill that a cabinet reshuffle is imminent to fill several vacancies and replace Liberal ministers who are not seeking re-election.
Filomena Tassi, minister responsible for the federal Economic Development Authority of Southern Ontario, Dan Vandal, minister responsible for Northern Affairs, Carla Qualtroff, minister of sport, and Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of revenue, are all not seeking re-election. announced that.
Pablo RodrÃguez resigned from his position as Minister of Transport and member of the Liberal Party caucus in September to run for leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Randy Boissonneau resigned as employment minister last month after weeks of questions about the Edmonton MP’s shifting claims to Indigenous identity and business dealings.
The next federal election is expected to be held by October 2025.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2024.
