In a speech made in the House of Commons following Question Period, Mr. Hill informed the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, of his decision.

 

“It is ultimately up to each of us, as Members of Parliament, to determine when is the right time to leave, when the passion begins to wane, when we may no longer be sufficiently motivated to give the job the 100 per cent our constituents deserve,” said Mr. Hill. “We’re fortunate if we can choose the time of our departure rather than our constituents making that choice for us. For me, that time is now.”

 

“My heartfelt thanks to the residents of Prince George-Peace River for their trust, loyalty, and consistent majority support throughout six elections and three party incarnations. It has been an unbelievable honour to be their Member of Parliament all of these years.”    

 

Mr. Hill first ran as a Reform candidate in the 1988 federal election.  He was first elected in 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River, and has been re-elected by healthy majorities in five subsequent General Elections.

 

In opposition, Mr. Hill served as Chief Opposition Whip and Opposition House Leader, and in various critic roles including justice, agriculture and national defence.

 

Upon the election of the Conservative Government in 2006, Mr. Hill was sworn into the Privy Council of Canada as Chief Government Whip.  He was subsequently appointed to the unique position of Minister of State to Assist the Prime Minister.  In 2008, Mr. Hill was appointed by the Prime Minister to the Cabinet as Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, a position he held until August of this year.