Bob Rae bows out of politics
Former interim Liberal leader ends political career to focus on legal work as a negotiator for Matawa Tribal Council in Northern Ontario
OTTAWA — Political veteran Bob Rae exited stage left Wednesday, bowing out of the federal scene to focus on his legal work in mediation.
The former interim Liberal leader and Toronto MP is ending a political career that spanned decades after realizing he couldn’t juggle politics and work as a negotiator for the Matawa Tribal Council in Northern Ontario in their dealings with the provincial government.
The First Nations is in talks with Ontario over the “Ring of Fire” mining development.
“It’s been a very difficult decision,” Rae told journalists in the House of Commons foyer. “And an emotional one for me.”
He thanked his riding of Toronto Centre and wished his constituents the best in the future.
With Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau at his side he said: “Above all, I want to thank my leader. We have had a wonderful relationship that has only grown stronger over the past weeks and months.
“I’m quite confident that Mr. Trudeau will become the prime minister of Canada.”
Rae’s political career stretched over five decades and two political parties.
After being elected as an MP in 1978, he later shifted to provincial politics, culminating in a term as Ontario’s first NDP premier from 1990 to 1995.
He went back to federal politics, this time as a Liberal, and made a failed run at the party’s leadership in 2006.
“We are extremely emotional today,” Trudeau told reporters at the end-of-session media conference. “I personally am sad that Bob has taken the decision he has. We will miss his wise counsel, his emotion and experience, but most of all we will miss his passion.”
Best wishes came from col- leagues across the aisle as well.
On Twitter, Prime Minister Stephen Harper commended Rae for his years of public service, adding, “I wish him best of luck with future endeavours.”
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair also weighed in, saying Rae should be given his due for logging so many years in the political spotlight.
“He deserves our full respect and I wish him and his family well,” he said.
Finally, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May tweeted that Rae was “a superb parliamentarian, a class act, and a mensch. I will miss you.”
Rae will walk away from public life with an annual pension of almost $56,000, according to estimates from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
He was also one of five Ontario MPPs who were made overnight millionaires when former premier Mike Harris dismantled lavish MPP pensions and replaced them with RRSPs.