Christine Elliott officially announces she’s no longer running for re-election in June
Premier Doug Ford is losing a key player as Health Minister Christine Elliott - also his deputy premier - says she won't run in the June 2 provincial election.
Elliott confirmed her pending retirement in a statement Friday morning, following news reports Thursday night.
After considerable reflection and discussion with my family, it is with deep gratitude for my 16 years in public life that I recently shared with Premier Ford I will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming provincial contest in June," she wrote.
Between now and this spring, Premier Ford has asked me to continue to support our government as minister of health and I have agreed without hesitation."
Elliott, 66, and a lawyer by training, has been in charge of the high-profile health portfolio throughout the pandemic, a role that attracted anti-restrictions protesters to her home at times.
After two-plus years of COVID she deserves to have her life back," one source told the Star.
Ford paid tribute to Elliott in a statement of his own.
Christine has been by my side since the start of the pandemic. She remains instrumental in helping steer Ontario through one of the most difficult periods in our province's history, especially now as we continue to protect our hard-fought progress and ease public health measures. I will continue to rely on her advice and counsel."
Elliott ran three times for the Progressive Conservative leadership, losing close contests to Patrick Brown in 2015 and Ford in 2018 following Brown's sudden resignation. She also ran in 2009 against Tim Hudak.
The veteran MPP took three years off from electoral politics after her 2015 leadership defeat and served as Ontario's first patient ombudsman, a $220,000-a-year role to which she was appointed by former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne. Elliott had been her party's outspoken health critic.
She took a pay cut when she quit the job, unsuccessfully sought the leadership and subsequently won re-election to the legislature in Newmarket-Aurora four years ago.
Elliott is the second high-profile minister to announce a retirement from politics this year. Businessman and former finance and environment minister Rod Phillips resigned the long-term-care portfolio last month to return to private life.
Several of Ford's MPPs have also announced they will not run in the June election.
Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1