Liberal MNA Jean-Marc Fournier won’t seek re-election in 2018

Liberal Jean-Marc Fournier announced Monday afternooon he won’t be seeking another mandate in next October’s provincial elections.

Fournier is the MNA for Saint-Laurent and a prominent member of the Liberal cabinet, notably in his role as house leader and Minister responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie.

Fournier will be finishing his mandate and will also work on the provincial election campaign.

“I’ve come full circle,” he said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

Fournier reminisced about some of his accomplishments during his political career, including the completion of Highway 30.

“Thirty years have passed. It’s no doubt time for change for me.”

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Fournier explained it was time to make room for new faces in Quebec’s Liberal Party.

1:50 Jean-Marc Fournier not seeking re-election in 2018

WATCH ABOVE: Liberal MNA and House Leader Jean-Marc Fournier explains his decision not to seek re-election in 2018.

The politician has held a number of cabinet positions since he was first elected to the legislature in 1994 including education, municipal affairs, justice and revenue.

He is also the current minister for Canadian relations and the Canadian francophonie.

He briefly left provincial politics in 2008 and returned in 2010.

Fournier joins five other Liberal members who’ve officially announced they wouldn’t seek re-election, including Quebec Justice Minister Stephanie Vallée.

Last year, allegations surfaced that Jean-Marc Fournier was one of two Liberal MNAs subject of a 2012 criminal probe by police in Quebec.

Police opened an investigation last April when the president of the Montreal Police Brotherhood made the allegations on live radio.

When asked if that was a factor in his resignation he said he had a list of pros and cons “it was in the cons list, but it wasn’t a major factor,” Fournier said.

Fournier went on to thank his family for their support throughout the years and said he’ll miss the National Assembly.

“We can leave the National Assembly but we can’t leave politics when they’re a part of your core.”

-With files from The Canadian Press