Glover's departure from politics pleases Winnipeg Liberal candidate

Manitoba's senior cabinet minister Shelly Glover won't seek re-election to the House of Commons in the next federal election, and will resume her role as a police officer in Winnipeg.

The 48-year-old Conservative MP made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying she is proud of all that she has accomplished since leaving the force to enter politics.

• Christian Paradis, Shelly Glover, federal ministers, won't seek re-election

"While I am proud of this record and the time I spent in Ottawa, it is time to return to my previous life," Glover, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 2008, said in a release.

Glover mentioned Thursday at a cancer fundraising announcement in Winnipeg that she had a skin cancer scare in 2014 and received treatment. Despite the fact that her condition wasn't serious and that she remains in good health, Glover called the experience an eye opener.

"This past 18 months has been particularly difficult for me and my family as we have dealt with some very serious health issues while I was away from home. As their wife, mother and grandmother [with a second grandchild on the way], my family is very grateful that I am coming home."

Some happy Glover leaving politics

Liberal candidate Dan Vandal said the Conservatives will have a hard time replacing Glover.

"She's been an excellent competition, great accomplishments and popular, so whoever the Tories now find won't be as strong or as attractive a candidate as Shelly Glover was," said Vandal.

Vandal went on to say he was happy to hear Glover is stepping away from politics because it would've been hard to win against her in the next federal election.

"I think it's good news for my campaign. Certainly when a quality candidate like Shelly Glover decides to not run, that's good news. But I am cautiously happy that we still have to run a strong campaign to win this."

St. Boniface resident Bill Sparling also thinks Glover's departure helps Vandal's election odds.

"That's good news. I've never been a Conservative government or Shelly Glover [fan] and I'm happy to hear she's not running because that gives Danny Vandal a better chance of becoming our MP," said Sparling.

Winnipegger Albert Chan said that while the news comes as a surprise, he believes Glover's decision to return to policing makes sense.

"Law enforcement may have been her passion all along and if she wants to go back to her passion that's her choice

Last year, the federal ethics watchdog cleared Glover of breaching conflict of interest laws by attending a fundraiser organized by her local riding association.

Glover will continue to serve as Canada's minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and MP for St. Boniface, until the next general election expected later this year.

Read Shelly Glover's full statement below.