Long-serving Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott will not seek re-election

The long-time MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills and current Speaker at Queen's Park says he will not seek re-election whenever the next Ontario election is held.

Ted Arnott, 61, has been an MPP since 1990, and in a statement Tuesday did not say why he would not to run again.

Instead, he thanked people who have volunteered on his nine campaigns, his family, staff and constituents.

He said between now and the next election, "I will continue to serve Wellington-Halton Hills to the very best of my ability and continue fulfilling my non-partisan responsibilities as Speaker of Ontario's provincial parliament in Toronto."

The provincial legislature is set to resume on Monday.

Seat is 'relatively safe' for PCs

Tamara Small, a political science professor at the University of Guelph, says she's not surprised by Arnott's decision because 34 years is a long career.

She also doesn't think the Progressive Conservatives need to be concerned about the announcement.

"This seat is relatively safe for the PCs. Arnott had a 35-point lead over his next closer rival in the last election and 30 points in the previous election," Small told CBC News.

"To be fair, all parties do see open seats as an opportunity and they might try to find a strong candidate to challenge the next PC candidate. The NDP which has come in second recently may want to pay a bit more attention there because it's open. However, it is still an uphill battle."

Small said the more interesting race will be the one to replace Arnott as the Progressive Conservative candidate for the riding.

"As this is a safe seat, this will likely attract a large number of potential candidates," she said.

Lydia Miljan, a professor of political science at the University of Windsor, said she suspects this is one of a few announcements from sitting MPPs that they may not run again.

"The timing [of Arnott's announcement] only indicates that he is giving the party time to find a new candidate for that riding, which does lead credence to the speculation that there will be an early election call sometime in 2025," Miljan told CBC News.

"I suspect that we'll see more of these announcements in the short term as they become election ready."

'Exemplary example of public service'

Arnott's announcement was noted by MPPs, including Liberal John Fraser who represents a riding in Ottawa. Fraser called Arnott an "exemplary example of public service," in a post on X.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, who is also the MPP for Guelph, thanked Arnott on X for "his service and for how collegial he has been in working together to advocate for Guelph-Wellington."

Premier Doug Ford thanked Arnott on X for his "extraordinary record of public service."

Fellow PC MPP Lisa MacLeod wrote on X that Arnott "is a perennial gentleman."

"Unlike those who will be but a footnote in Ontario's history book, he will own a chapter, and glowingly so," she said.