The NDP MP for Victoria is retiring. Here is the official news release.
The NDP MP for Victoria is retiring. Here is the official news release.
Victoria Member of Parliament Denise Savoie announced her retirement from politics today. Savoie will be resigning her House of Commons seat effective August 31, 2012. The constituency office will however remain open and its personnel will continue to serve the people of Victoria.
“After 6 years in the House of Commons and nearly 13 years as an elected official, I have decided to return to private life,” said Savoie. “My doctor gave me a health warning this spring and recommended that I adopt a more balanced lifestyle, without the travel and physical demands of the job of an MP from Western Canada. I am therefore resigning as the Member of Parliament for Victoria.”
“Denise Savoie leaves a tremendous legacy to the House of Commons and to the New Democratic Party of Canada,” said NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair. “Denise is a leader in our caucus with her passionate commitment to sustainability and protecting our environment and her focus on cross-party cooperation on issues of common concern. She will be missed by all of her colleagues regardless of political affiliation.”
“It has been a privilege to serve my community as a Member of Parliament,” said Savoie. “I am proud that I was able to secure federal infrastructure funding for the Johnson Street Bridge and sewage treatment. In the House of Commons, I introduced legislation and motions that reflected Victoria’s values, such as creating a national child care program and banning tankers from our sensitive coastal waters.
“Thomas Mulcair is an exceptional leader who is inspiring Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” said Savoie. “I am confident he will build on Jack Layton’s 2011 breakthrough and lead the NDP to victory in the next federal election.”
Denise Savoie was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Victoria on January 23, 2006, becoming the first woman ever elected as MP from Victoria. She was re-elected in 2008 and 2011. After the 2011 election, Savoie was appointed Deputy Speaker. She served on Victoria City Council and the Capital Regional District board from 1999 to 2005. Prior to entering elected politics, Savoie was active as a volunteer with many community and environmental organizations in Victoria.
Before Ms. Savoie won the riding, Liberal David Anderson won it four times in a row. Through the 1980s, Victoria was a battle between the NDP and Progressive Conservatives: the PCs winning in 1979, 1980 and 1984 and the NDP winning in 1988.
This could set up a round of as many as four by-elections this fall. Calgary Centre and Durham are currently without MPs and, pending the Supreme Court’s decision, Etobicoke Centre could have to go to a vote too.