Prime Minister Stephen Harper is preparing for a major cabinet shuffle this month, as the number of ministers departing goes up.
Marjory LeBreton, the Government Senate Leader, announced she was stepping down on Thursday. Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State of foreign affairs, and Minister of State for finance Ted Menzies said they won't run in 2015. Vic Towes is also expected to retire ahead of the cabinet shuffle, the CBC reports.
And now, Federal Environment Minister Peter Kent says he's ready, even excited, for a potential demotion from cabinet.
In a press release, the Thornhill MP says while he fully intends to run in 2015, he will "will fully support the PM's eventual decisions."
"If, in the fullness of time and the eventual shuffle, I do find myself a backbench Parliamentarian, I will enthusiastically embrace what will be, for me, exciting new challenges," the release states.
Kent says that although a demotion is "still officially hypothetical, I would be able to better devote myself to my Thornhill constituents, to their issues, and to the issues of the Greater Toronto Area."
Read Kent's full statement below:
It has been an honour, since 2008, to proudly represent the GTA constituency of Thornhill in the House of Commons. Prime Minister Harper amplified that honour when he appointed me to his Cabinet, first as the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) and, since January 2011, as Minister of the Environment.
Given increasing speculation regarding the coming Cabinet shuffle, statements from a number of esteemed colleagues that they will not run in the 2015 election and should not be considered for cabinet, and, in response to concerns expressed by Thornhill constituents, I wish to clarify a number of issues.
Whatever the outcome of the impending changes to Cabinet, I firmly intend to stand for re-election in 2015.
While it has been a great honour to have served in cabinet, political service does not begin or end in that revered body.
Our Conservative caucus has an abundance of talented MPs and it is only appropriate that other, younger men and women should take a turn in cabinet. I will fully support the PM's eventual decisions.
If, in the fullness of time and the eventual shuffle, I do find myself a backbench Parliamentarian, I will enthusiastically embrace what will be, for me, exciting new challenges.
Although still officially hypothetical, I would be able to better devote myself to my Thornhill constituents, to their issues, and to the issues of the Greater Toronto Area.
Most important among those issues; growing the economy, helping job creation, protecting our environment, AND, working to ensure the re-election of a strong, stable, majority Conservative government.
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