Ontario Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott who helped steer the province during the COVID-19 pandemic is not running for the upcoming provincial election in June.
The announcement comes as Ontario reports the lowest COVID-19 cases since the testing restrictions began. On Monday, Ontario reported 1,074 new cases of COVID infections. There have been 12,574 deaths in the province from COVID-19.
Elliott has been a major part of the province’s pandemic response since it began two-years ago and a high profile member for Premier Doug Ford’s cabinet.
“After considerable reflection and discussion with my family, it is with deep gratitude for my 16 years of public life that I recently shared with Premier Ford I will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming provincial contest in June,” she said in an official statement.
Elliott, 66, graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor of Laws degree. She built a career in business and law before her time in politics.
She went on co-found the Abilities Centre in Whitby, which says on its website that it “strives to make communities more accessible and inclusive to increase quality of life for every individual.”
Elliott’s late husband, Jim Flaherty, served as as Ontario’s finance minister under the PC Mike Harris and later served as federal finance minister under Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Elliott went into politics in 2006 when she successfully ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in the provincial riding of Whitby. She has since then won five elections.
She is currently serving as the Deputy Premier of Ontario and is MPP for Newmarket-Aurora.
Ontario Green Leader Mike Schreiner wished her well in her life after politics.
“While we may disagree on policy, Christine Elliott has dedicated her life to public service and to the people of Ontario, I respect her and wish her well in her future endeavours,” Schreiner said on Twitter.
Elliott thanked the people of her riding for their support.
“To the people of Newmarket-Aurora, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you” Elliott in an official statement on Twitter.
She is the second high-profile member of Ford’s cabinet to announce their departure. In January, Minister of Long-Tterm Rod Philips made a surprise announcement that he not planning for re-election.
Three other PC MPPs have also said they would not be running for re-election in the spring.
Elliott thanked Ford in a press conference on friday for the opportunity to serve as Ontario’s minister of health.
She confirmed she will remain at the cabinet table throughout for the final three months of the government’s term in office.