Marco Mendicino, former Public Safety Minister and Toronto Liberal MP, won’t seek re-election

Marco Mendicino, a Toronto Liberal MP and a former Public Safety Minister in the Justin Trudeau government, has announced that he will not seek re-election.

Mendicino announced the move on social media, posting a lengthy letter explaining that it was the right time for him to move on. However, he will serve the rest of his term as MP for Eglinton-Lawrence.

The letter states it is no secret he has had disagreements with the current direction of the Liberal party, particularly on policies around Israel, the situation in Gaza and the Middle East.

“It has been the honour of a lifetime to be the MP for this incredible Toronto riding in Parliament for three consecutive terms, as well as a Minister of two portfolios in the federal Cabinet,” wrote Mendicino.

“I am forever grateful for the strong support of my constituents in each of the elections, which we won by decisive margins. However, as much as I love the job, this is the right decision, at the right time, for me and my family.”

Mendicino was first elected in 2015, unseating the Conservative finance minister at the time, Joe Oliver.

In 2019, he became Immigration Minister before moving to public safety, where he oversaw gun control legislation and faced controversy around serial killer Paul Bernardo being transferred from a maximum to a medium-security prison. He was left out of a cabinet in a shuffle in 2023.

He is the latest of many Liberal MPs who have said they won’t run again amid slumping poll numbers and an election that could come as early as this spring.

“As for the near future, I remain passionate about the law and the shaping of good public policy, particularly when it comes to national security and the border, and how they will drive the Canadian economy of the 21st century,” Mendicino wrote. “I hope to be a thoughtful voice on these issues as navigating them has never been more important to our democracy.”