Cape Breton Canso MP Rodger Cuzner says his name won’t be on the ballot when voters go to
Rodger Cuzner
the polls in the federal election this fall.
Cuzner, who has been in the House of Commons for the past 19 years, announced in Glace Bay this morning he won’t be re-offering. Cuzner is currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour. Previous roles held by Cuzner included Chief Opposition Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to then-Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
Cuzner was first elected as the MP for Bras d’Or-Cape Breton in November 2000, beating incumbent NDP MP Michelle Dockrill.
Cuzner said he has been thinking about whether or not he would reoffer since Christmas. With a riding the size of Cape Breton-Canso, which features 54 volunteer fire departments, four provincial ridings and parts of three others, seven municipal ridings, and three first nations communities, Cuzner said it’s a big commitment.
He thanked constituents for showing him their support in the last six federal elections. As for what’s next, he said he will continue to work on some important files until the Fall election.
Earlier this year, Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking announced his retirement. Both Eyking and Cuzner entered federal politics at the same time.