TORONTO (AP) – Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird will be announcing his resignation from the Cabinet on Tuesday, a senior government official said.
The official who is close to the minister said late Monday that Baird simply felt it was the right time to move on after a successful career in both the Ontario provincial legislature and federal parliament. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak ahead of Tuesday’s announcement.
Baird, 45, is one of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s most trusted and loyal cabinet ministers. He previously served in Harper’s cabinet as house leader, environment minister, transport minister and treasury board president. He has a reputation for being hyper-partisan. He often escorted Harper’s wife, Laureen, to official events when Harper couldn’t attend.
A statement from Baird’s office said he planned to make an announcement in Parliament on Tuesday morning, but did not disclose any details.
The official said Baird won’t be running for parliament in the next federal election, scheduled for October.
“The minister is looking to turn the page on 20 years of public service, and like anyone in public office is looking for new opportunities at the young age of 45,” the official said.
Baird has also served as a minister in Ontario’s provincial government.
He had little international experience before becoming foreign minister in 2011. He was known as a staunch supporter of Israel.