Quebec Native Affairs Minister Geoffrey Kelley has announced he will not be running in the upcoming provincial election, ending a lengthy political career with Quebec's Liberal Party.
Kelley made the announcement in Beaconsfield, in his riding of Jacques-Cartier on Montreal's West Island, on the banks of Lac Saint-Louis Monday morning.
"It is a difficult day for me," Kelley said.
"I thank my neighbours for their support and confidence in me, and in the Quebec Liberal Party over the years."
"I've decided to step aside and, I hope, find a new challenge where I can reflect on all that I have learned, and perhaps share some of the knowledge with young people who are interested in public policy in public life."
Kelley has represented the same riding since he was first elected Sept. 12, 1994.
He is the latest Liberal cabinet minister to announce he won't be running again. Robert Poëti, Martin Coiteux, Jean-Marc Fournier and Stéphanie Vallée have all stated that will not seek re-election in the fall.
Kelley served as the official opposition critic for family policy and native affairs from 1997 to 1998.
After being re-elected in 1998, he was the official opposition critic for native affairs and the Great North from 1999 to 2003.
Kelley was made minister for native affairs for the first time in 2005, a position he held until 2007.
Despite being re-elected to a fourth term in 2007, he was not re-appointed to Jean Charest's cabinet. He became chair of the social affairs commission and then took on the minister role again from 2011 to 2012 and again in 2014 until now.
The next election is scheduled for Oct. 1.