Scott Brison is quitting the political career he loves to spend more time with the family that politics made possible.
After 22 years representing the Nova Scotia riding of Kings-Hants Brison tells The Canadian Press it's time for a change.
He's decided not to seek re-election this fall.
Brison — who initially started as a Conservative MP — says he's not sure whether he'll remain a Liberal MP until the October 21st election but he will be resigning shortly from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet, where he serves as president of the Treasury Board.
Brison says he's told the prime minister that he wants to relinquish his cabinet responsibilities in a timely manner and support the transition to a new minister.
He says he feels the prime minister and the government are best served by ministers who will be running in the next election.
Brison, who switched to the Liberals in 2003, says he's announcing his decision now to give Liberals in his riding time for a nomination contest to choose who will carry the party's banner in the coming election.
Justin Trudeau is praising Brison as "a tireless champion for the people of Nova Scotia and for Canada'' and as "one of the friendliest people you will ever meet in this business.''
Brison says he's ready for new challenges and says above all else, the decision is about his family, husband Maxime St. Pierre and their four-year-old twin daughters Rose and Claire.
He says to him — Max and Rose and Claire are miracles.
Brison made history as Canada's first openly gay federal cabinet minister and again as the first federal politician to wed his same-sex partner.