Moore's departure leaves Harper without another key ally

[Oscar]

Moore's departure leaves Harper without another key ally

[ http://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/ ... r-key-ally ]

OTTAWA CITIZEN Published on: June 19, 2015 Last Updated: June 19, 2015 5:20 PM EDT

The federal Conservatives head into the summer pre-election season without another of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s most influential ministers, following Friday’s announcement that British Columbia’s James Moore won’t seek re-election.

Moore, the 39-year-old industry minister, is Harper’s senior B.C. minister in cabinet. The province is expected to be a key election battleground this fall.

His abrupt announcement – he will stay in his portfolio until the Oct. 19 vote – comes just three weeks after Justice Minister Peter MacKay announced that he, too, is quitting. Other cabinet heavyweights who will not run again include John Baird, the former foreign minister who has already gone, Canadian Heritage Minister Shelly Glover and International Development Minister Christian Paradis.

- -

Moore’s absence from federal politics will be a “huge loss” for Harper both in B.C. and nationally, one New Democrat MP predicted. Moore won his urban Lower Mainland riding in the 2011 campaign with 56 per cent of the vote, with the New Democrats in second place with 30 per cent.

B.C. New Democrat Kennedy Stewart said the decision represents a political “game-changer” heading toward the October vote.

“James Moore has been Harper’s lieutenant for years here on the West Coast – raising money, recruiting candidates, dealing with the tough issues – and now he is no longer available,” said Stewart, MP for Burnaby-Douglas.

- - -

Moore has long been rumoured to have leadership aspirations, and some in Harper’s inner circle consider him a potential successor to the prime minister. He has not ruled out a return to politics at a later date.