Charlie Angus will not run in next election

After 20 years and seven elections, Timmins-James Bay New Democratic MP Charlie Angus says he won’t run in next year’s federal election.

He made that announcement now… because with riding redistribution, Timmins-James Bay officially disappears this month.

Angus notes that the new Mushkegowuk-Kapuskasing-Timmins will be 20,000 square kilometres larger than Timmins-James Bay, which is larger than Great Britain.

“When I look at the enormity of that region and the need to build relations, it strikes me this is a perfect time to pass the baton,” Angus told a small gathering in his Timmins office, “because this requires, I think, new energy and new direction, and it’s a good moment to make that transition.”

Meanwhile, Angus says Pierre Poilièvre will say what he wants about him – he doesn’t care.

He was asked to react to the idea that Conservative Party leader Poilièvre will say that Angus knows he can’t beat Tory candidate Gaétan Malette.

“When I look at the size of the riding, and for me it’s about respect to voters, those voters deserve the energy of someone coming in, and I think this is a strong New Democrat region, and our team will win this next election.”

Sixty-one-year-old Angus has won the last seven elections, and points out that a Conservative has not been elected in Timmins in 40 years. He will finish out his term, and says the NDP will begin the search for a new candidate.

Here is audio from the news conference: