Well, 3 cabinet Ministers won't be running again.
I'm not surprised about Emerson (the guy didn't have a change anyways), but Solberg wasn't expected.
Emerson, Hearn, Solberg won't run in next election
Last Updated: Thursday, September 4, 2008 | 6:09 PM ET Comments44Recommend34
CBC News
Federal cabinet ministers David Emerson, left, Loyola Hearn, centre, and Monte Solberg will not seek re-election, the Conservative party confirmed Thursday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Fred Chartrand/Canadian Press)
Three cabinet ministers — David Emerson, Loyola Hearn and Monte Solberg — will not run in the next election, the Conservative Party of Canada announced Thursday afternoon.
"I have the utmost respect for all of these men and wish both them and their families all the best with whatever they choose to do outside of politics," said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a news release.
All three will play key roles in the looming campaign, the release said.
Both Emerson, the Foreign Affairs minister, and Hearn, the Fisheries minister, were widely expected to step out of politics in the next electoral race, but Solberg's departure came as a surprise.
Solberg served as a Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat for the past 15 years, and spent the past two years in cabinet posts. He was Citizenship and Immigration minister before being appointed to the Human Resources portfolio in cabinet shuffle in early 2007.
"The decision to retire is the most difficult decision that I can remember making," Solberg wrote on his high-profile blog. He gave no indication what triggered his decision.
Emerson, who represents the Vancouver-Kingsway riding, made headlines when he defected to the Tories in February 2006, less than a month after winning a seat as a Liberal in the federal election.
His crossing of the floor gave the Conservatives an MP with strong business experience — Emerson once served as CEO of the softwood lumber giant Canfor Corp. and had been industry minister under Liberal prime minister Paul Martin.
Emerson was initially appointed the Conservatives' international trade minister, and he was praised for signing a softwood lumber agreement with the United States, ending a longstanding trade dispute.
Hearn represents the Newfoundland riding of St. John's South-Mount Pearl and has been an MP since 2000.
Since then, he has battled Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams over equalization and defended seal hunters in his province.
I'm a mod, come to me if there's mod'n to do.
Chrizum is the best thing to happen to the internet, Period.
Serves me right for challenging his sales predictions!
Bet with dsisister44: Red Steel 2 will sell 1 million within it's first 365 days of sales.
