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- Westshore MP Randall Garrison resigns after 14 years
Westshore MP Randall Garrison resigns after 14 years
Citing health, the Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke rep delivered an emotional speech in Parliament while retiring several months early
The Member of Parliament is stepping down after 14 years, he announced in the House of Commons this week. The NDP MP had already announced in early 2023 that he would not run in the next election, but has suggested later that year that he might resign early if an early election looked unlikely. Garrison, aged 74, now says that he has a family doctor again after waiting for 4 years, and that he is following that doctor’s advice by prioritizing his health and retiring.
His departure will take effect in January, per a release, presumably allowing it to fall within the 9-month window before a fixed election in which a byelection does not need to be held. His district office said in a release that constituent services will continue uninterrupted.
Emotional farewell speech in House of Commons
Granted extra time for a final address, Garrison warned colleagues that he was “a crier” but joked that the longer speech may save him having to write a book someday. He wondered aloud at his journey, becoming choked up as he said he was still “astonished” that “a queer kid from a farm in Nebraska and from a working-class family riven by domestic violence and child abuse” went on to become an MP.
He thanked his supporters; his husband; and the influences of former NDP founder Tommy Douglas, who got him to join the party, and former leader Jack Layton, who convinced him to run despite Garrison’s misgivings about whether the riding would accept an openly gay representative.
Garrison cited pride in work he did as an MP to protect Southern Resident orcas, fund Esquimalt harbour cleanup, ban conversion therapy, and ban discrimination over gender identity under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Watch his speech via CPAC, along with the tribute speeches that others made for him from across party lines.
Garrison has held riding for NDP since its creation
He won re-election comfortably in 2015, 2019, and 2021—after narrowly winning its predecessor Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca in the 2011 election (his third try). The current riding includes Esquimalt, Sooke, Metchosin, View Royal, Colwood, Esquimalt First Nation, parts of Saanich and Songhees First Nation, and several other local areas.
He was also a Camosun prof for several decades and an Esquimalt councillor from 2008 to 2011.
Sooke mayor is NDP’s new candidate
Maja Tait was acclaimed by the party in August 2023. She will take a leave to campaign when an election is set, and has said she does not intend to run for mayor again in 2026 regardless of the result—saying that Sooke needs “fresh ideas with fresh people.”
Few long-time federal or provincial politicians left on Island
There were a host of retirements prior to the recent provincial election, and after Garrison leaves the only Island MLAs or MPs with a decade-plus of experience in their roles will be MLA Lana Popham in Saanich and federal Green and peninsula MP leader Elizabeth May.