Marco Mendicino Declines to Run in Upcoming Federal Election, Citing Family Reasons

Marco Mendicino, once a prominent figure within Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, has declared that he will not run in the next federal election. In a social media statement issued on Thursday, he expressed his appreciation for the strong backing he received from constituents in the Eglinton–Lawrence riding, while affirming his commitment to serving as a member of Parliament until the next election. Mendicino stated, “As much as I love the job, this is the right decision, at the right time, for me and my family.”

Mendicino was first elected in 2015, during Trudeau's majority government victory, and successfully retook his seat in 2019 and 2021. He initially served as Minister of Immigration before moving to the role of Minister of Public Safety in 2021. In this position, he was responsible for introducing significant firearms legislation designed to regulate handgun sales and ban certain types of weapons, though this proposed legislation met with considerable opposition and controversy before it was eventually enacted in December 2023.

His tenure as public safety minister also witnessed the government's unprecedented use of the Emergencies Act in early 2022 in response to the “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa, which challenged COVID-19 restrictions and disrupted city life. Following a cabinet shuffle in July 2023, Mendicino was removed from his ministerial role, a move interpreted as a criticism of his management of the highly publicized transfer of notorious criminal Paul Bernardo to a medium-security facility, which stirred outrage among the victims' families.

Additionally, Mendicino has been a proactive advocate for the Jewish community, pushing for stronger government actions against the rising antisemitism linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. While he did not speculate on his future beyond politics, he mentioned the encouragement from community leaders to maintain a leadership presence in Toronto and his ongoing passion for law and public policy.

Mendicino's announcement comes amid escalating turmoil within the Liberal Party, which saw significant cabinet reshuffling following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. These leadership changes have intensified pressure on Trudeau as more Liberal MPs call for his departure before the federal elections scheduled for October.