Ontario: Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi has stepped down as parliamentary secretary to possibly run for leadership of the provincial Liberals.
Naqvi will remain in the Ottawa Centre seat but will act as parliamentary secretary for both the president of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness.
A written statement from his office confirmed that Naqvi had taken the step as he “explores the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party.”
Meanwhile, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair extended his best wishes to Naqvi and said, “I’m grateful to my friend Naqvi for his work as my Parliamentary Secretary. Together, we worked to strengthen emergency management in Canada to make communities safer and more resilient. I wish him well as he steps away from this role.”
Naqvi was elected to the federal level in 2021 but served at Queen’s Park for nearly nine years. During this period, he also served as Ontario’s Attorney General and Labor Minister.
Ontario’s Liberal Party has been running with the interim leader since last June’s provincial elections and the Liberals are yet to set a date to elect the party’s new leader.