EDMONTON — James Rajotte, Conservative MP for Edmonton-Leduc, announced Sunday he won’t be running in the upcoming federal election.
Rajotte has been a member of Parliament for 15 years. He is also chair of the House of Commons finance committee.
“It has been a tremendous honour to serve in our national Parliament for the past 15 years. I want to first and foremost thank the people of the ridings of Edmonton-Leduc and Edmonton-Southwest for expressing their confidence in me and allowing me to represent them in the House of Commons for five terms,” he wrote in a statement posted online.
He also thanked Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his Conservative caucus colleagues and his family for their support.
“In the past 15 years, three of my private member’s initiatives – on identity theft, Alzheimer’s and financial literacy – have been adopted by the House of Commons. I am proud of these achievements and appreciate the substantive action taken in these areas by the government. Democracy is the best form of government, and I believe that parliamentary democracy is the best form of democracy. I encourage future parliamentarians to continue to work on initiatives like the Reform Act that would strengthen our democratic institutions and allow Members of Parliament to fulfill their crucial roles of public policy formation and of oversight.
“I believe more profoundly today than I did when I entered Parliament that Canada is the best country in the world, a place where we can fulfill our deepest hopes and aspirations, and be a light and example for the world.”
The prime minister released the following statement:
“We thank Mr. Rajotte for his service to his constituents and all Albertans, and wish him well with his further endevours.”
Rajotte posted a link to his official statement on Twitter.
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