Stepping down

Few MPs leave politics voluntarily, and turnover in the House of Commons has been notoriously small this past decade since salaries rose and the political landscape has remained relatively stable. Still there are some who have chosen not to run again. Here is a list of those who have declared their intention to resign at this point. Because all parties have not completed their nominations, the list could grow. Liberals Many former ministers are packing in their political careers: former natural resources minister John Efford, the political minister for Newfoundland, is not running again. At the other end of the country, former environment minister David Anderson will not run in Victoria. Former government house leader Don Boudria ( Glengarryis also leaving, as is former minister of labour Claudette Bradshaw (MonctonRiverview-Dieppe). Long-serving backbench MPs leaving include: Marlene Catterall ( Ottawa West-Nepean), Peter Adams (Peterborough), Beth Phinney (Hamilton Mountain). Conservatives Eight Conservative MPs have announced they will retire — and all are Westerners elected under the now defunct Reform Party banner. They are: Dave Chatters (Westlock- St. Paul), Randy White ( Abbotsford), John Reynolds (West VancouverCoast), Jim Gouk (Southern Interior), Charlie Penson (Peace River), Darrell Stinson (North Okanagan-Shuswap), Werner Schmidt (Kelowna) and Dale Johnston (Wetaskiwin). Chatters and Stinson are quitting for health reasons, both have battled cancer this year. Of the eight, seven were elected in 1993 when Reform made its initial electoral breakthrough. (Reynolds, a Progressive Conservative MP in the 1970s, joined the fold in 1997). New Democrats Former party leader Ed Broadbent ( Ottawa Centre) is leaving after a one-term return to politics because he wants to spend more time with his ailing wife, Lucille. Bloc Québécois Just one current MP so far has said he won’t be back — Marcel Gagnon (St. Maurice-Champlain). Stéphane Bergeron (Verchères— resigned earlier this month to pursue a provincial post in Quebec. Independents Of the four independent MPs in the House, all of them elected under a larger party banner last time, three are not coming back. They are: Pat O’Brien (LondonCarolyn Parrish (Mississauga-Erindale) and David Kilgour (Edmonton-Beaumont).