Mark Warawa won鈥檛 be running in the next federal election.

The five-term Member of Parliament for 91原创-Aldergrove said he deliberated for four months before making his decision. It was decided after reading the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes, which 鈥� among other things 鈥� says there is a 鈥渢ime for everything.鈥�

No matter one鈥檚 political stripes, every resident of his riding (its boundaries have been redrawn a couple of times) owes him a thank you for choosing public office.

Politics is not the cake walk some would have you believe. Just the logistics of being a B.C. MP and having to bridge the great distances between home and Ottawa is a challenge.

It takes its toll, not only for the politicians, but also their spouses and families.

Whether Warawa was part of the government in power or the opposition, he was faithful to his causes. Those included the lives of women and girls, including female in utero (a stand that put him at odds with then-prime minister Stephen Harper, the leader of his party), the health dangers of asbestos, and Medical Assistance in Dying.

So now it鈥檚 onto the next phase of his life, as Warawa confirmed it is his time to do other things.

He is studying to become a chaplain and plans on working with end-of-life care 鈥� an issue he became involved with as a politician, but one he intends to pursue into private life.

Bottom line: Mark, thanks for your years of service to this country, and this community.

鈥� Staff