Veteran Liberal MP John McKay announced he will be stepping down after finishing his term as MP for the riding of Scarborough-Guildwood, after 27 years in office.
He was first elected when Jean Chretien was prime minister in 1997. While McKay never served in cabinet, he has won his seat in the past nine federal elections.
He also served as Parliamentary secretary for Paul Martin’s administration, and then later to Justin Trudeau’s.
McKay introduced three private member’s bills in the House of Commons that became law during his tenure.
First in 2004, when he introduced an amendment to the Hazardous Products Act, prohibiting cigarettes that don’t meet flammability standards.
Then later in 2008 with the Official Development Assistance Accountability Act, which ensured that Canadian development aid would be focused on poverty reduction.
Most recently, he introduced the Forced Labour in Canadian Supply Chains bill, which was implemented on May 31 of this year, with 3,000 companies required to file their compliance with the legislation.
At the age of 76, McKay wants to spend more time with his wife and family.
“I have traded on the goodwill of my wife for 27 years,” Mckay told CTV News in an interview Friday.
“She has described herself as a political widow and I don’t think that’s a good thing, certainly at our age and stage.”