On Thursday, NDP MPs Rachel Blaney (North Island—Powell River), Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay) and Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing) announced they won’t be seeking re-election in the upcoming federal election.
Carol Hughes, the Member of Parliament for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing, and a member of the NDP, will not seek re-election.
Hughes made the announcement yesterday saying it has been an exceptional honour representing the people of Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing for the past 16 years.
Hughes adds she got into politics to try and make a positive difference in people’s lives, has always attempted to take a pragmatic approach to the job and reach across party lines to get things done, adding she is proud of the work she had done.
Hughes was first elected in 2008, and won re-election in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
She has acted as Assistant Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole since 2015.
In her time in office, she successfully fought to make FedNor a standalone agency and much more.
Hughes will remain the MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing until the next federal election.
From securing funding for the Gore Bay Airport, to the Meldrum Bay marina, to working to settle the Lecours Lumber lease agreement, to helping save post offices in Webbwood, Constance Lake First Nation, and Walford, Hughes says she has always fought for the needs of local communities.
On a national level, along with fellow New Democrats, she worked to secure dental coverage for millions of Canadians, develop a framework for single-payer universal pharmacare, including coverage for contraceptives and diabetes medication, anti-scab legislation, an indigenous-led housing program, and the passing of the Canada Childcare Act.
“I’m exceptionally proud of what I’ve managed to accomplish,” said Hughes. “I know that we can continue to show Canadians that we can enact real, tangible, positive change by electing more New Democrats. “I look forward to helping elect the next generation of progressive MPs within the new electoral boundaries in the North, but it’s time for me to start planning on spending more time with my family.”