JOHN Baird resigned as foreign affairs minister on Tuesday.

It was already known on Monday that he was quitting and would be leaving federal politics. He says he wants a change in career and will help Prime Minister Stephen Harper campaign in the federal election.

Baird told the House of Commons on Tuesday that he had informed Harper on Monday about his decision.

He said: “After serving 10 years in provincial politics, 10 years here in federal politics, 10 ministerial portfolios and more grey hairs than I care to admit … the time has come for me to start a new chapter in my life.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper noted that Baird had been an essential part of his ministry since 2006, when he served as President of the Treasury Board. He had also been minister of the environment, minister of transport, infrastructure and communities, and leader of the government in the House of Commons.

Harper said: “He has accomplished remarkable things in those portfolios, including introducing and successfully shepherding the new Federal Accountability Act through both houses of Parliament, delivering some 12,000 infrastructure stimulus projects across the country during the global economic crisis when they were needed most, and most recently taking on the Ukraine and ISIL crises.

“John has always been willing to do a lot of heavy lifting in my various cabinets and has assumed daunting new responsibilities with unsurpassed energy, commitment and professionalism, never losing sight of the fact that he was serving the Canadian people.

“John’s intelligence, charm, affability and directness are well appreciated by Members of Parliament of all parties. In fact, in 2010, he was voted Parliamentarian of the Year.”

Harper added: “On behalf of all Canadians, I thank John Baird for his years of tireless devotion to Canadians in the House of Commons, in Cabinet and in the Legislature of Ontario. Parliament was better for his presence, the country better for his service. His many achievements will be honoured and remembered.”

Other Conservative MPs who are not seeking re-election:

Diane Ablonczy: Calgary—Nose Hill

Mike Allen: Tobique—Mactaquac

Ray Boughen: Palliser

Garry Breitkreuz: Yorkton—Melville

Rod Bruinooge: Winnipeg South

Patricia Davidson: Sarnia—Lambton

Barry Devolin: Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock

Peter Goldring: Edmonton East

Richard Harris: Cariboo-Prince George

Laurie Hawn: Edmonton Centre

Russ Hiebert: South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale

Gerald Keddy: South Shore—St. Margaret’s

Greg Kerr: West Nova

Ed Komarnicki: Souris—Moose Mountain

James Lunney: Nanaimo—Alberni

Colin Mayes: Okanagan—Shuswap

Rick Norlock: Northumberland—Quinte West

Gordon O’Connor: Carleton—Mississippi Mills

LaVar Payne: Medicine Hat

Joe Preston: Elgin—Middlesex—London

Gary Schellenberger: Perth—Wellington

Joy Smith: Kildonan—St. Paul

Brian Storseth: Westlock—St. Paul

Maurice Vellacott: Saskatoo—Wanuskewin