NDP MP Rachel Blaney, who has represented North Island-Powell River for the past nine years, has announced she is not seeking re-election.
Blaney, 49, the NDP party whip, said it’s been a “great privilege and honour” to serve the area, but she now wants to focus more on family and to stay closer to home on “beautiful” Vancouver Island.
“It’s been an incredibly difficult decision to step away from politics, but I’m proud of what New Democrats have accomplished for working people,” said Blaney, who was first elected in the riding in 2015.
The federal NDP announced Thursday that Blaney, in addition to Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus and Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes, won’t be seeking re-election in the upcoming federal election.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh thanked them for all they’ve done to make Canada “a fairer, better place.”
Blaney was described as a “stalwart defender” of veterans and seniors, having pioneered a study into women veterans’ health and successfully lobbied for more Guaranteed Income Supplement rebates for seniors.
Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Randall Garrison, 72, who was first elected in 2011, earlier announced he was not seeking re-election.
