After 17 years in elected office, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil announces he’s stepping down

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Amid the challenges that the world is facing due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Stephen McNeil announced that he will be stepping down as the premier of Nova Scotia.

McNeil announced this in a news conference a day after he celebrated his 17th year of service in elected office.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, I’ve been doing this more than half of my children’s life,” he said.

The premier clarified that he is retiring not because he is tired of being the leader of their province, but because he is simply “tired.”

“It’s been hard, it’s been difficult but it’s been a real privilege to do it. But now it’s time for someone else,” he said.

McNeil described his seven years of being the province’s premier as the “most rewarding” of his professional career and that he is honored to have the opportunity to serve Nova Scotians.

Leaving the public office has been on his mind earlier this year, but McNeil said he had to reconsider his decision when the pandemic began.

The Liberal Party of Nova Scotia has been told to plan a leadership campaign which, according to McNeil, is expected to take months. So until his successor is chosen, the premier assured that he will continue to govern and work with public health to ensure the safety of Nova Scotians during this pandemic.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, thanked McNeil for his more than a decade of service to Nova Scotia and Canada, noting that the latter has shown “strong leadership” even during these difficult times.

“Through his efforts to advance the Atlantic Growth Strategy, promote clean energy, and, most recently, to support the Safe Restart Agreement and Team Canada’s fight against the impacts of COVID-19, Premier McNeil has been a great partner in the federation,” Trudeau said.

“His strong advocacy for his province and Atlantic Canada will be missed at the First Ministers’ table,” he continued.

McNeil was elected as Nova Scotia premier in 2013 and was re-elected in 2017.