Geoff MacLellan latest Liberal MLA leaving N.S. politics

Nova Scotia's Minister of Business Geoff MacLellan announced Thursday he is leaving politics, in large part because of the heavy toll he said public life has had on his personal life, especially his relationship with his two children.

"Without a doubt, the number one reason are my two kids, Jorja, who's nine, and Daniel, who's seven," MacLellan told reporters following a regularly scheduled cabinet meeting.

He said his children know him more as a politician than as a dad: "So for me, that is really important that they actually know their dad as a person, because they don't."

MacLellan, the MLA for Glace Bay, said he will remain in his seat for the time being, but will not seek re-election.

He said even during his time at home, away from legislature sittings or cabinet responsibilities, he wasn't able to disconnect from the job.

"Even when I'm there, I'm not there all the way a lot of times," he admitted. "To take them to the beach and have a hot Saturday afternoon at the beach, all I'm thinking about who I have to call on Monday and what meetings I have and what I've missed and who's going to be upset because I didn't return an email."

'I felt very numb'

Although MacLellan made it official Thursday, he said he had been mulling over retirement for months and only made the decision two days ago.

"I felt very numb, and have felt numb since," he said. "It's hard to get your head around."

The announcement came following what could be Premier Stephen McNeil's last cabinet meeting. Nova Scotia Liberals pick a new leader on Saturday.

MacLellan said the timing of McNeil's departure seemed appropriate for his own political exit.

"I came in with the boss ... and I'm going out with the boss," he said.

For his part, McNeil paid tribute to his colleague and friend, noting his steadfast loyalty.

"Has never wavered in his support for me, for the decisions that we've made as a government," said McNeil. "I love the guy. I love him for who he is.

"He is a big part of my extended family."

Other Liberals retiring

MacLellan will be the sixth member of the Liberal caucus to announce they will not be seeking re-election. He first won a seat in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly on June 22, 2010, in a byelection and has been re-elected twice since. 

He started his political career on the opposition benches but when the Liberals won government in 2013, McNeil appointed him minister of transportation and infrastructure renewal. 

He has also been minister of energy and is the government House leader, a job that involves setting the government's agenda at the legislature.

In recent months, his cabinet colleagues Karen Casey and Leo Glavine have also announced their retirement from provincial politics. Environment Minister Gordon Wilson and former cabinet minister Margaret Miller made their retirement plans public earlier, as did backbench MLA Bill Horne.