Alberta NDP MP Linda Duncan won’t seek 4th term in Edmonton Strathcona

The federal New Democrat Party’s only Alberta MP is not going to run in the next federal election.

On her Facebook page Tuesday morning, Edmonton Strathcona MP Linda Duncan said “it is time to pass the torch to another.”

“I have been deeply touched by every single person who has thanked me for my service, or said they hoped I will run again in 2019,” Duncan wrote.

“It is the wonderful people of Edmonton Strathcona that have kept me energized. I am profoundly grateful that they elected me three times.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It is the wonderful people of Edmonton Strathcona that have kept me energized. I am profoundly grateful that they elected me three times."

Watch below: Alberta’s lone NDP member of Parliament, Linda Duncan, is calling it quits. The three-term representative for Edmonton Strathcona announced she will not run in next year’s general election. Gord Steinke sits down with Duncan to discuss the decision.

4:20 Alberta NDP MP Linda Duncan won’t seek 4th term in Edmonton Strathcona

READ MORE: Linda Duncan wins only seat in Alberta for NDP

Duncan was first elected in 2008, and the only non-Conservative MP to get elected in Alberta. Conservative Rahim Jaffer held the riding from 1997 to 2008 until Duncan defeated him in an upset 2008 victory by a margin of just 463 votes.

She was re-elected in 2011 and 2015.

READ MORE: NDP MP to introduce bill putting rail oil shipments under same scrutiny as pipelines

Duncan currently serves as the NDP’s Critic for International Development and the deputy critic for Environment and Climate Change.

“I think that’s long enough to be in Parliament Hill. I’ve given a lot of good energy and there’s a lot of great people in this riding who I know can step forward. I will be 70 years old when the election comes,” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I think that's long enough to be in Parliament Hill. I've given a lot of good energy and there's a lot of great people in this riding who I know can step forward. I will be 70 years old when the election comes," she said.

Duncan said her decision has nothing to do with Jagmeet Singh being elected federal NDP leader last year.

“It has absolutely nothing to do with that. He’s a Jack Layton person, too. Jack persuaded him to get involved in politics,” she said.

LISTEN BELOW: MP Linda Duncan speaks with 630 CHED’s Ryan Jespersen

In a tweet, Singh thanked Duncan for her service.

Before entering politics, Duncan worked as an international environmental law consultant in Edmonton.

The next federal election is expected to take place in October 2019.