Newmarket-Aurora MP Kyle Peterson says he won't run for Liberals again

Liberal MP says he won't run in the 2019 election, maintains support for Trudeau

Yorkregion.com
March 29, 2019
Jeremy Grimaldi

Newmarket-Aurora's Liberal MP Kyle Peterson has decided not to run again citing his wish not to be a "FaceTime father" to his two boys, aged seven and nine.

Peterson, 48, was voted in along with 184 other Liberal MPs in the majority government election of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2015. He pulled off a narrow victory over Lois Brown after being beaten by the former Conservative MP in former prime minister Stephen Harper's 2011 majority win.

Peterson is the third Liberal MP of late to decide against running for the party in the upcoming October election.

The first was Scott Brison, who opted not to pursue re-election in February.

The Liberals have also faced a pair of recent defections namely former Liberal Whitby MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes, who decided not to run again and to sit as an independent in early March, and Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MP Leona Alleslev, who crossed the floor from the Liberals to Conservatives in September 2018.

Peterson posted his resignation letter on Facebook on March 28. In it he mentioned he'd been considering pulling the plug throughout Christmas and the March break, as he spent time with his family, namely his two young sons.

"I know in my heart this is the right decision at this time," he wrote.

Despite the timing, Peterson made sure to support Trudeau who continues to face backlash outside and inside his own party as a result of the ongoing SNC-Lavalin scandal.

"I am proud to have served with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and our entire caucus," he said. "I want to thank him for his support."