Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the resignation of John Baird

Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks with John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, about his upcoming visit to Europe and Eurasia. 14 April 2014 (Photo courtesy of www.pm.gc.ca)

Ottawa, Ontario — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the resignation of John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs:

“It is with great regret and affection that I today accepted the resignation of one of the finest ministers that I have had the privilege of working with, John Baird.

“John has been an essential part of my ministry since 2006, when he served as President of the Treasury Board. Since then, he has been Minister of the Environment, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and, of course, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

“He has accomplished remarkable things in those portfolios, including introducing and successfully shepherding the new Federal Accountability Act through both houses of Parliament, delivering some 12,000 infrastructure stimulus projects across the country during the global economic crisis when they were needed most, and most recently taking on the Ukraine and ISIL crises.

“John has always been willing to do a lot of heavy lifting in my various cabinets and has assumed daunting new responsibilities with unsurpassed energy, commitment and professionalism, never losing sight of the fact that he was serving the Canadian people.

“John’s intelligence, charm, affability and directness are well appreciated by Members of Parliament of all parties. In fact, in 2010, he was voted Parliamentarian of the Year.

“On behalf of all Canadians, I thank John Baird for his years of tireless devotion to Canadians in the House of Commons, in Cabinet and in the Legislature of Ontario. Parliament was better for his presence, the country better for his service. His many achievements will be honoured and remembered.

“I wish John the best of luck in all his future endeavours.”