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

Search for suspect vehicle on after Surrey shooting

Search for suspect vehicle on after Surrey shooting
Police in Surrey are looking for a suspect vehicle after shots were fired at an area home. R-C-M-P say it happened on the morning of December 27th, noting no one was injured in the incident.

Search for suspect vehicle on after Surrey shooting

'Prominent' person in B.C. wine industry under investigation for sex assault: RCMP

'Prominent' person in B.C. wine industry under investigation for sex assault: RCMP
Police in Oliver, B.C., say they're investigating a "prominent member" of the province's wine industry for an alleged sexual assault on a Mexican migrant worker. South Okanagan RCMP say the unnamed suspect employed the worker, and they believe there are other victims or witnesses who have yet to speak to investigators.

'Prominent' person in B.C. wine industry under investigation for sex assault: RCMP

One dead, 11 injured after tour bus from Montreal crashes in New York state

One dead, 11 injured after tour bus from Montreal crashes in New York state
New York State Police are reporting that one person is dead and 11 people are injured after a bus coming from Montreal crashed on Interstate Highway 87 in Lake George, N.Y. Police say that in addition to the death, one passenger suffered serious injuries and 10 people were left with minor injuries after a Skyway Coach Line tour bus crashed at around 12:50 p.m. today.

One dead, 11 injured after tour bus from Montreal crashes in New York state

Move to allow Canadian drugs to be imported by U.S. creates shortage fears

Move to allow Canadian drugs to be imported by U.S. creates shortage fears
A major shift in United States pharmaceutical policy allowing for the importation of drugs from Canada is creating fears about future drug shortages in this country. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced plans Friday to allow Florida to import millions of dollars worth of pharmaceuticals from Canadian wholesalers as a way to avoid the high cost of drugs in that country.

Move to allow Canadian drugs to be imported by U.S. creates shortage fears

South Asian communities grapple with extortion threats in B.C., Ontario, Alberta

South Asian communities grapple with extortion threats in B.C., Ontario, Alberta
In early December 2023, police in Abbotsford, B.C., revealed that extortion letters had been circulating among businesses in the city and that its major crime unit was looking into them.  Abbotsford police said at the time that social media posts depicting an extortion letter were consistent with what they'd been seeing.

South Asian communities grapple with extortion threats in B.C., Ontario, Alberta

Vancouver Police say man posed as dad, trying to take five-year-old girl from daycare

Vancouver Police say man posed as dad, trying to take five-year-old girl from daycare
Police in Vancouver say a man posing as a parent tried to take a five-year-old girl from a home daycare, in what they call a "troubling" case. They say the incident happened on Dec. 13, when a man showed up at the East Vancouver after-school daycare at about 3:30 p.m. and asked for the girl by name.

Vancouver Police say man posed as dad, trying to take five-year-old girl from daycare