Liberal MP Marco Mendicino, who has held two federal cabinet positions, announced on Jan. 2 that he will not run in the upcoming federal election.
Mendicino, who served as public safety minister from 2021 to 2023 and immigration minister prior to that, announced his decision in a statement posted on social media. He cited his disagreement with the Liberal government’s foreign policy, particularly its “deteriorated relations” with Israel and its response to the “unjust targeting” of Jewish communities in Canada.
The MP for Eglinton—Lawrence has been vocal against the rise of anti-Semitism in Canada following the terrorist group Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023. He condemned pro-Palestinian protesters for targeting Jewish businesses, including a recent incident at the Indigo Eaton Centre bookstore in Toronto on Boxing Day.
Mendicino was public safety minister when the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act to deal with the Freedom Convoy protests in 2022.
Mendicino said he will complete his current term but said not seeking re-election is “the right decision, at the right time, for me and my family.”
Other Departures
Mendicino is one of several former Liberal ministers to announce their departure from politics as the country heads toward the next federal election.
Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced last month that he was stepping down from cabinet to spend more time with his family and will not seek re-election. Former Minister of Sport Carla Qualtrough announced earlier that she would not seek re-election and was excluded from the recent cabinet shuffle.
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Additionally, National Revenue Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal, and Southern Ontario Economic Development Minister Filomena Tassi have all confirmed their departures.
On the same day Fraser made his announcement, then Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland also unexpectedly declared her decision to leave the cabinet, though she stated she will still run in the upcoming election. Freeland cited differences with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on fiscal policy, particularly as Canada faces a potential trade war with the United States following tariff threats from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The departures come at a turbulent time for Trudeau, who is facing growing calls from the Liberal caucus for his resignation.
As of early December, the Trudeau Liberals had survived three Conservative non-confidence votes with support from the NDP and, on some votes, the Bloc Québécois.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced on Dec. 20 plans to table a non-confidence motion in January aimed at bringing down the minority Liberal government.
Matthew Horwood and Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
