Member of Parliament Tom Lukiwski announced that he will be stepping down as the representative for Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan when the next federal election is called and will not be seeking re-election.
“The simplest answer is that it’s time,” said Lukiwski. “I’m at peace with it. I’m comfortable with it. I’m very satisfied with what I’ve been able to accomplish over the years.”
Lukiwki has served two consecutive terms in the Moose Jaw-Lake Centre-Lanigan constituency as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada, first elected in 2015.
Previously, he held the seat for Regina-Lumsden-Lake-Centre for four consecutive terms, beginning in 2004, until the constituencies were redistributed in 2012.
After 17 years as a political figure, Lukiswki said that he felt it was time to step back and allow a new Conservative Party candidate to step into the role.
“I felt that if I was going to be stepping down, I should do it at this time to allow the (Conservative) Party enough time to have a decent and thorough nomination process, as there could be a federal election this fall,” said Lukiwski. “And I’m hopeful and quite frankly confident that we will get a very good and qualified group of people who will put their names forward.”
He feels good about the work he has been able to do as an MP, passing significant pieces of legislature. He noted that he was able to take part in some big moments during his time in Parliament, including the passing of Bill C-18 to abolish the Canadian Wheat Board.
Lukiwski remembers a contingency of Saskatchewan and Alberta producers travelling to Ottawa to witness the vote on this bill, and the enormity of the moment for him.
“Many of them had tears in their eyes because they were witnessing something first-hand they thought they’d never see in their lifetime,” said Lukiwski. “And so to be part of a government that brought freedom to to all those people, I can’t put into words how that made me feel, how proud and happy I was.”
Under Stephen Harper’s government, Lukiwski served as Parliamentary Secretary to Government House Leaders for nine years. He sat on several committees as both government and opposition.
He feels that support for the Conservative Party in his constituency has grown over his years in office, and he has a good feeling about the future of the party for the candidate that emerges in the future.
“I went from winning by a good margin to an overwhelming margin 17 years later, and I think that just speaks to the fact that I’ve always known my most important duty was to take care of my constituents,” said Lukiwski.
“The people who elected me were the most important people in the political life, nothing else mattered except taking care of them, responding to them, and listening to them, so at the end end of the day I think I’ve achieved that and I’m always going to remember that very fondly.”
The next federal election has not yet been called, but must take place on or before Oct. 16, 2023. Lukiwski will remain in office until the next election.
