Photo: Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press Former Minister of Justice David Lametti, last May
Former Minister of Justice David Lametti announces his departure from political life, a government source confirmed to Devoir. Six months after being removed, to everyone's surprise, from the cabinet during a ministerial reshuffle, the Quebec MP informed his colleagues that he would leave them next Thursday, February 1.
“The eight years that I spent in elected office were one of the most enriching experiences of my life,” wrote in a letter the man who represented the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Émard since 2015 -Verdun.
Mr. Lametti claims to be leaving “a dream job”, but concedes that his expulsion from the cabinet last July was followed by a “difficult period on a personal level”. The trained lawyer will join the Fasken Martineau DuMoulin firm as an advisory lawyer.
He and two other colleagues — Marco Mendicino and Mona Fortier — were shown the door last summer. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau never wanted to justify his decision. He was replaced by his former parliamentary secretary, Arif Virani.
The day after the reshuffle, Mr. Lametti affirmed on his social networks that he intended to run in the next elections, in response to “numerous speculations” about his future as a deputy.
“I would like to reassure my constituents that I intend to remain your MP and continue to serve you in the House of Commons,” he wrote. Having met the required eligibility requirements, I intend to run in the next election, whatever it may be. »
Mr. Lametti was elected to Parliament in 2015 and has served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada since 2019. Mr. Lametti says he is “proud” of his record “in a progressive government” — , mentioning in particular the adoption of 13 bills, including criminal law reform, the elimination of certain mandatory minimum sentences, family law reform and the ban on conversion therapy.
The Prime Minister will have a maximum of six months to call a by-election.
With The Canadian Press