Scott Brison resigning from federal cabinet, won’t seek re-election

OTTAWA – Scott Brison is set to resign from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet after deciding he won’t seek re-election this fall.

The Treasury Board president says he’s decided it’s time for a change after 22 years representing the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants — initially as a Progressive Conservative MP before jumping to the Liberals in 2003.

Brison says he wants to leave politics while he’s “on top” and is looking forward to new challenges.

But he says most importantly, he wants to spend more time with his spouse, Maxime St. Pierre, and their four-year-old twin daughters, Rose and Claire.

“I can’t wait to spend the next chapters of my life with you,” he says.

Brison made history as Canada’s first openly gay federal cabinet minister and again as the first federal politician to wed his same-sex partner.

Brison says he’s not sure whether he’ll resign his seat altogether before the Oct. 21 election but he will be resigning soon from the cabinet in the belief that the government is best served by ministers who intend to run again.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will miss Brison, but wouldn’t weigh in when asked if the resignation has anything to do with his name popping up in the trial of Vice Admiral Mark Norman, who is accused of leaking government secrets.

“On the issue of the matter before the courts, as I’ve said, it would be inappropriate for me to weigh in on that.”

Trudeau says he will be shuffling his cabinet on Monday but wouldn’t say how many portfolios will change hands.

It will give his inner circle a new look with months to go before the next election.

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