AN UNEXPECTED TURN OF EVENTS
GRANT CRACK ANNOUNCES HE WILL NOT RUN
Grant Crack expects Liberal Red will remain the political colour for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, even if he is no longer MPP for the riding after the June provincial election.
Crack issued a news release Thursday morning, April 5, to announce his decision to step down as MPP, about a month before the official campaign period starts for the June 7 provincial election. The announcement comes about two months after he was reconfirmed without opposition as the Liberal candidate for GPR, during the riding association’s January nomination meeting.
“This is something we’ve been thinking about,” Crack said during a later afternoon phone interview, adding that he and his family had discussed “for well over a year, how we wanted to live our lives”, and whether or not he felt up spending another four years away from home, either in Toronto at the provincial legislature or on the road travelling throughout the riding.
Crack said his decision to step down as MPP was made “with a clear mind and a somewhat heavy heart”. It is not due to any concern that the Liberals could lose the election and he might end up spending the next four years on the Opposition side of the legislature.
"We are going to win again "he said. "If it’s not with a majority, it will be (with) a strong minority. Whether I was to be reelected or not had no bearing on this decision.” Grant is not alone in withdrawing from the ranks of incumbent Ontario Liberal MPPs for the June provincial election. Two members of Premier Kathleen Wynne's current cabinet have also announced their retirement. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan, of the Markham riding, and Government and Consumer Affairs Minister Tracy MacCharles, of pickering-Scarborough East. have also declared that for personal reasons they will not run for reelection.
From mayor to MPP
Crack has spent 17 years in politics, first as a member of council and later as mayor for North Glengarry Township. He then Jumped into provincial politics to replace JeanMarc Lalonde as the Liberal MPP for GPR after winning the 2011 provincial election.
During his two terms in office, Crack has served as parliamentary secretary to the education minister and now is the parliamentary secretary for agriculture, food, and rural affairs. At present, he has no immediate plans following the June 7 election.
“I’m interested in a number of things,” he said. “I’m open to anything that will make me happy.”
Crack’s focus for now is on finishing as much business for GPR as possible before his official departure and also on supporting the new Liberal candidate following the GPR Liberal Association’s nomination process.
Pierre Leroux, mayor of Russell Township, has announced that he will see the nomination as the new Liberal candidate for GPR Crack expressed support for Leroux’s chances of success. The riding association has a candidate nomination vote in St-Isidore April 13, 7 p.m., at the recreation centre.