Veteran Liberal cabinet minister Andrew Parsons won't run again
Decision will set up 5th byelection in a row
Energy and Industry Minister Andrew Parsons has announced he is not planning to run in the next Newfoundland and Labrador election.
In an interview with CBC News on Friday, Parsons said his decision is driven by personal reasons only, and is unrelated to his political career.
"This decision is about me," said Parsons. "It has got nothing to do with politics."
Although Parsons, 45, did not share any immediate plans regarding his future career, he expressed that he's open to various possibilities, including a potential return to his former profession as a lawyer.
Parsons entered provincial politics in 2011 and held a number of posts while the Liberals were in opposition, including serving as Opposition House leader.
While in government since 2015, he has been government House leader, and has had cabinet portfolios in justice, municipal affairs and environment.
His father, Kelvin Parsons, also a former justice minister, held the same seat in the House of Assembly for 13 years, leaving politics in 2011.
'Not a snap decision'
Parsons said his political career began as a result of his father's influence.
"I have no doubt that the first time I ever got elected was based on his legacy … I have no doubt I came in on his coattails," he said.
He said his decision to retire reflects a shift in priorities as he hopes to realign his focus on his family and personal life outside the realm of public service.
However, Parsons said this announcement did not come lightly.
"This is not a snap decision. This is something I've been talking about for a while and it had nothing to do with politics. It had nothing to do with my prospects of re-election or the team," said Parsons.
He said he and Premier Andrew Furey had numerous conversations leading up to this announcement today.
"I had no idea it was ever going to last this long," he said, referring to his career. "I'm super lucky and you know, I'm thinking I'm going to really miss it and I've loved it. But that doesn't mean that you can't try something new."
In a Facebook announcement, Parsons said he will stay on as MHA "for a while."
Parsons told CBC he will continue to finish his projects until his last day in office.
No byelection planned for now
Parsons is leaving politics in a year that has already had four provincial byelections.
In January, voters elected Liberal candidate Fred Hutton, a former broadcaster who had served as a senior communications aide to Furey, in the district of Conception Bay East-Bell Island, which had previously been held by PC politician David Brazil.
In February, Baie Verte-Green Bay MHA Brian Warr announced he was leaving politics after eight years in office. PC candidate Lin Paddock went on to flip Warr's seat.
In April, a byelection in Fogo Island-Cape Freels filled the seat made vacant after Liberal MHA Derrick Bragg died. That seat flipped from red to blue when voters elected PC candidate Jim McKenna.
Most recently, Liberal candidate Jamie Korab was able to keep the Waterford Valley seat red, which needed to be filled after longtime MHA Tom Osborne retired in July.
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