John Yakabuski is retiring from politics.

The popular, hardworking and highly respected MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke announced Tuesday afternoon he will not be seeking re-election in the next provincial election, ending a career that has spanned more than two decades.

“After much consideration and conversations with those nearest and dearest to me, I’ve decided that I will not be a candidate in the next provincial election,” he said.

“After over 21 years serving as your elected representative, it is time to move on to a new phase in my life,” he continued. “I will of course continue to carry out my duties as your MPP until such election is called.”

Mr. Yakabuski said it has been an honour, beyond description, to be chosen by his constituents, in six consecutive elections to represent them in the legislature.

“When Vicky and I decided many years ago that this would be our path in life, we did so, not knowing how long I would be privileged to serve you,” he said.

“While there have been rewarding and gratifying times, as important improvements, investments and projects were delivered to the riding, our greatest joy and lasting memory will be the wonderful and amazing people we have met and gotten to know along the way. I will be ever grateful for those experiences.”

Mr. Yakabuski expressed his very special thanks to those who have served as his staff, particularly at the constituency level, saying that none of the successes that have come his way would have been possible without their dedication and commitment.

“Lastly but most importantly, I reserve my deepest thank you for my dear wife and our family,” he said. “The life of a politician requires significant sacrifice on their part which they accepted without complaint. Vicky’s unconditional love and unending support has fueled and encouraged me every step of the journey.

“I have been truly blessed.”

Mr. Yakabuski grew up in a political family. His late father, Paul, was the MPP for Renfrew South for 24 years, from 1963 until 1987, and was an effective and hardworking member. In many ways, his son was a chip off the old block and has been immensely popular throughout his career with people of all political stripes.

Near the end of his father’s political career, Sean Conway was the Liberal member of the provincial legislature in the neighbouring riding of North Renfrew. The two ridings were amalgamated in 1987 to form the new riding of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

Mr. Conway continued to represent the riding until he retired in 2003 after a political career of 30 years. He announced his plans to retire in the fall of 2002 and at the urging of many people, Mr. Yakabuski declared his intentions to seek the Progressive Conservative nomination. But his entry into provincial politics didn’t come without its challenges. Only after a tight race in the winter of 2003 with his only opponent, Doug Leach of Pembroke, he won the nomination by a 174-vote margin.

His second challenge was to wrestle the seat from the Liberals. Mr. Conway’s longtime executive assistant, Derek Nighbor, ran for the Liberals and with the party poised to win a majority government in October 2003, it was a closely fought election that went down to the wire.

At the end of the count, Mr. Yakabuski was elected by a slim margin of 645. Not only was his victory a major upset in the riding, but he was the only new PC candidate elected and it was the only former Liberal seat to be won by the Tories. The Liberals were re-elected with a huge majority and the number of PC seats was reduced to just 24.

Mr. Yakabuski was easily reelected in the 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018 and 2022 elections, polling some of the highest pluralities across the province. He has held several high-profile positions in the government including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and Parliamentary Assistant to the premier in 2021.

Currently, he is Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Electrification. The community of Barry’s Bay has been home to four riding MPPs. Mr. Conway’s grandfather, Tom Murray, was the Liberal representative from 1929 to 1945. Then came Paul Yakabuski, followed by Sean Conway and now John Yakabuski. Mr. Conway and Mr. Yakabuski are second cousins.