Close X
Saturday, September 21, 2024
ADVT 
National

NDP MPs Charlie Angus, Carol Hughes, Rachel Blaney opt against seeking re-election

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Apr, 2024 10:34 AM
  • NDP MPs Charlie Angus, Carol Hughes, Rachel Blaney opt against seeking re-election

NDP MPs Carol Hughes and Rachel Blaney have joined Charlie Angus in deciding that they won't run again in the next federal election.

The federal New Democrats delivered the news in a joint announcement, saying all three want more family time after years of dedicated public service.

Angus, a 20-year veteran of Parliament Hill, confirmed his own plans to leave politics earlier Thursday, saying it's time to pass the baton. 

"One political era is ending, and another begins," he said in a statement on Facebook. 

New federal boundary changes also played a role in their decisions. 

Angus's northern Ontario riding of Timmins—James Bay is set to expand, a change Angus says will demand new energy to build relationships with constituents in so many communities.

Hughes, a longtime deputy Speaker who also represents northern Ontario, will see her riding of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing disappear entirely in the next federal election. 

"I look forward to helping elect that next generation of progressive MPs, but it’s time for me to start planning on spending more time with my family," Hughes said in a statement. 

Blaney, who serves as party whip, said it's time for her to also focus on her family and stay closer to home, describing it as "an incredibly difficult decision to step away from politics."

"It’s been an honour to serve British Columbians over the past nine years, and I’ll continue to fight for them until the next election," she said.

In a statement, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh thanked all three for their years of advocacy and their contributions to the party.

Nearly a quarter of the NDP's caucus have announced they are set to step down, or have done so already. 

Longtime British Columbia MPs Randall Garrison and Richard Cannings have already announced they don't plan to run again. Winnipeg MP Daniel Blaikie quit his seat to work with Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. 

Despite policy gains through a political pact with the minority Liberal government, the NDP has so far struggled to translate its efforts to establish national pharmacare and dental care plans into public support.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, are eyeing NDP seats in British Columbia and northern Ontario by campaigning on affordability and opposing the federal price on pollution, arguing it is driving up the cost of goods for Canadians. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Canadians helped plan U.S., U.K. attacks on Houthis in Yemen: Defence Department

Canadians helped plan U.S., U.K. attacks on Houthis in Yemen: Defence Department
The Defence Department says Canadian Armed Forces members provided planning support for the U.S.-led attack on Houthi positions in Yemen Thursday but no Canadian equipment was involved. Three staff officers were deployed in December to the multinational operation in the Red Sea aimed at deterring Houthi blockades of the key shipping route. 

Canadians helped plan U.S., U.K. attacks on Houthis in Yemen: Defence Department

Housing crunch prompts efforts to stabilize immigration levels, say federal ministers

Housing crunch prompts efforts to stabilize immigration levels, say federal ministers
Housing Minister Sean Fraser and Immigration Minister Marc Miller say the federal government is working to stabilize the number of people entering the country every year as housing pressures mount. The federal government ultimately decided to increase the number of permanent residents Canada welcomes each year to 500,000 in 2025 — nearly double the amount from 2015.  

Housing crunch prompts efforts to stabilize immigration levels, say federal ministers

Truck hits roof of Massey Tunnel

Truck hits roof of Massey Tunnel
Mounties in Richmond are investigating after a witness said she saw a truck hit the roof of the Massey Tunnel Wednesday night. Police say the witness told them she was driving behind the truck when it hit and came to a stop inside of the tunnel before continuing through.

Truck hits roof of Massey Tunnel

Canada embarks on preclearance pilot project on U.S. side of Quebec/N.Y. land border

Canada embarks on preclearance pilot project on U.S. side of Quebec/N.Y. land border
The Canada Border Services Agency hopes to launch the two-year project later this year to determine whether similar setups could replace smaller, aging facilities on the Canadian side of the border.  The project carries a price tag of $7.4 million, money that was allocated in the 2021 federal budget. 

Canada embarks on preclearance pilot project on U.S. side of Quebec/N.Y. land border

Income gap between new immigrants and all Canadians shrunk by half in four years: PBO

Income gap between new immigrants and all Canadians shrunk by half in four years: PBO
A new report from the parliamentary budget officer finds the gap between the average incomes of new immigrants and all tax filers has narrowed significantly. The report finds the median income of new immigrants was about 78 per cent of the median income made by all tax filers in 2018, compared with 55 per cent in 2014.

Income gap between new immigrants and all Canadians shrunk by half in four years: PBO

Canada doesn't support 'premise' of South Africa's case against Israel at world court

Canada doesn't support 'premise' of South Africa's case against Israel at world court
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada supports the International Court of Justice but that doesn't mean Canada supports the premise of South Africa's genocide case against Israel. On Thursday, South Africa launched a case at the top United Nations court arguing Israel's bombardment of Gaza and its siege on the Palestinians who live there "are genocidal in character."

Canada doesn't support 'premise' of South Africa's case against Israel at world court