By Canadian Press

Former cabinet minister Tootoo won’t seek re-election this fall in Nunavut

Jul 30, 2019 | 10:06 AM

OTTAWA — Former Liberal cabinet minister turned Independent MP Hunter Tootoo says he is not running in this fall’s election.

In a statement, Tootoo says he has decided to leave public life after much consideration.

He says it has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of Nunavut first as a member of the legislative assembly and then as a member of Parliament beginning in 2015.

Less than a year later, Tootoo quit Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet and the Liberal caucus, apologizing for a “consensual but inappropriate relationship” with an unidentified person.

The former fisheries minister took a two-month hiatus to seek treatment for what he described as an alcohol addiction that he said took over his life and left his judgment clouded.

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In his statement today, Tootoo thanks his family, friends and parliamentary colleagues who helped him through a difficult period in his life, adding he encourages anyone who suffers from addictions, mental illness or trauma to seek help they need to heal.

The Canadian Press