Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi has stepped down from his role as a parliamentary secretary in order to possibly run for leadership of the provincial Liberals.

Naqvi will continue to hold his Ottawa Centre seat but will no longer act as the parliamentary secretary for both the president of the King's Privy Council for Canada and the minister of emergency preparedness.

Ottawa MP Yasir Naqvi 'seriously considering' run for Ontario Liberal leadership

Liberal Ottawa MP Yasir Naqvi says he is "seriously considering" a run to lead the Ontario Liberal Party.

Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi rises during Question Period in the House of Commons.

Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi rises during Question Period in the House of Commons April 29, 2022.

yasir naqvi ottawa centre

Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi rises during Question Period in the House of Commons April 29, 2022. Naqvi says he is thinking about running for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership.

Ontario Liberals choose new voting process for leadership race

Party members gathered at their annual general meeting in Hamilton voted overwhelmingly to use a one-member-one-vote system as the party seeks renewal and recovery from two consecutive electoral disasters.

Fraser took on the interim leadership role in 2018. He kickstarted the process of electing a new leader at the AGM today. 

Fraser took on the interim leadership role in 2018. Fraser kickstarted the process of electing a new leader at the AGM today. 

John Fraser

Interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser told party members gathered for their annual general meeting that the upcoming leadership race will be key to positioning the party for the next provincial election in 2026.

His office confirmed in a written statement that Naqvi is taking the step as he "explores the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party."

Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair wished Naqvi well in a tweet, saying the pair had "worked to strengthen emergency management in Canada."

I’m grateful to my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/Yasir_Naqvi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Yasir_Naqvi</a> for his work as my Parliamentary Secretary. Together, we worked to strengthen emergency management in Canada to make communities safer and more resilient. <br><br>I wish him well as he steps away from this role. <a href="https://t.co/kPneRhes4S">pic.twitter.com/kPneRhes4S</a>

Naqvi was elected federally in 2021 but had served for nearly nine years at Queen's Park, including as Ontario's attorney general and labour minister.

The Ontario Liberal Party has had an interim leader since last June's provincial election, and has yet to set a date for selecting the party's new head.

Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, pictured here during Question Period in December 2022, is stepping down from the role as he 'explores the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party,' according to his office.

Yasir Naqvi drops parliamentary roles in move towards Ontario Liberal leadership bid

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