OTTAWA – Long-time Liberal MP and cabinet minister Carolyn Bennett announced ahead of an expected cabinet shuffle later this week that she will not be running in the next election.
Bennett, MP for Toronto—St. Paul’s, was in Toronto Monday to announce $156 million in federal funding for the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, for the creation of a national suicide prevention hotline.
“I have shared with the prime minister that I will not be seeking re-election in the next election,” Bennett said in response to a question about her political future.
She said she plans to serve out the rest of her term in whatever capacity the prime minister decides.
“Serving the people of Toronto—St. Paul’s is the best job anybody can have and I look forward to doing whatever I can and whatever the prime minister wants me to do.”
Bennett has been a Liberal MP since 1997, making her one of the longest-serving members of the Liberal caucus. She has served under three separate Liberal prime ministers and has consistently won her seat even when the Liberals failed poorly in national elections.
She came to politics after a long career as a physician. During Trudeau’s time in office she served as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations before becoming minister of mental health and addictions in 2021.
The cabinet shuffle is expected to come as soon as Wednesday. Ministers who are not running in the next election are usually shuffled out of cabinet.
Twitter:
Email: rtumilty@postmedia.com
Post a Comment