Stalwart

I fear I may have jinxed the NDP by pointing out its then-perfect record of current MPs not planning to step down for the next federal election, as word came out today that Bill Blaikie's distinguished tenure in the House of Commons will end with the current Parliament:

Bill Blaikie, Member of Parliament for Elmwood-Transcona and presently Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, will not be seeking re-election whenever the current minority parliament comes to an end.

“I have advised the executive of the Elmwood-Transcona NDP Association that I will not seek re-nomination, and urged them to begin the search for candidates to run for the NDP nomination in this very winnable riding for our party,” said Blaikie.

Blaikie, the longest serving member of the current parliament, is Dean of the House of Commons. He was elected almost 28 years ago, on May 22, 1979, and has served in many capacities, most recently as NDP House Leader, NDP Parliamentary Leader, NDP Deputy Leader, and currently Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons.

We'll presumably find out before long who will earn the NDP's nod to try to succeed Blaikie. But whoever wins that role will have some massive shoes to fill - and the House of Commons will be worse off for the loss of its current Dean once Blaikie is gone.