Longtime politician Bob Rae announced Wednesday (June 19) that he was leaving politics to return to his original profession of lawyer and mediator to work on First Nation Indigenous issues.
The Liberal opposition Member of Parliament had been interim party leader before the election of Justin Trudeau in April of this year.
At a news conference with Trudeau in the foyer of the House of Commons, Rae said that work as a lawyer and mediator was taking more and more of his time and he felt he needed to focus on his role with the First Nations. He didn’t say when his resignation would be effective.
“Helping to improve the life of First Nations people has been a longstanding commitment of mine, and this opportunity to serve is one I felt I could not decline,” he said in his prepared statement.
Appreciate the kind messages and trying to ignore the less kind ones – merci pour la gentillesse aujourd'hui.
— Bob Rae (@BobRae48) June 19, 2013
On February 9, 1982 Bob Rae won the leadership of the province of Ontario’s NDP. In 1990 he would be premier. (Photo: Blaise Edwards/CP)
Rae first arrived in Ottawa as an MP for the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1978 and stayed for four years. He left Parliament Hill to head an ailing Ontario provincial NDP, and in 1990 became the premier of the province on a surprise election victory.
He was defeated in the next provincial election and after a long stint as a lawyer, negotiator and mediator, he joined the Liberal Party and ran in the 2006 Liberal leadership race. He came third, finishing behind his old college roommate Michael Ignatieff and the winner Stéphane Dion.
In the 2008 federal election he was elected to represent the Toronto riding of Toronto Centre.
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau praised the role of Rae in the Liberal party this way: “At a critical moment in our Party’s history, Bob stepped up to serve as Interim Leader with dedication and enthusiasm, assuming the immense responsibilities of rebuilding our Party.”
More information:
CBC News – Bob Rae quits as MP in ‘very emotional’ decision – here
CBC – In His Own Words: Bob Rae on his decision to leave the House – here
Toronto Star – Bob Rae stepping down as Liberal MP – here
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.