Cabinet Minister Robert Poeti has added his name to the list of ministers who will not run for re-election in October.
Poeti, who is the Minister for Integrity in Public Procurement and for Information Resources.
He was first elected in 2012 as the MNA for Marguerite Bourgeoys and was Minister of Transport from 2014 until 2016.
Although Poeti had already been confirmed several months ago as the Liberal candidate for the riding, he announced Wednesday that he will not run again.
Premier Philippe Couillard congratulated Poeti on his six years in office, while putting a positive spin on the decision.
"My words to Robert are thank you, good luck. Now for our team this and other cases in recent weeks shows that we have a fantastic opportunity for the most significant renewal that our party has ever had at the start of an electoral campaign," said Couillard.
"You will see on the day that the starter gives the signal that we will have a very, very good team, and a significantly renewed team, probably more than the other parties by the way. So there is an opportunity that we will grasp."
Poeti later said that the decision to leave was his and his alone.
"No, it was not Mr. Couillard who asked me to leave," he told reporters.
Poeti made the announcement Wednesday, telling his fellow cabinet ministers and posting a video online.
