FLASHBACK: Longest serving Provencher MP plans to pursue new opportunities

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/10/2023 (559 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the first time in more than 20 years the Provencher Conservative Party will be represented by someone other than Jake Epp in the next federal election.
Canada’s National Energy Minister says the time has come for him to pursue new opportunities after more than 20 years in federal politics. Epp, 53, resigned from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s cabinet in a letter dated December 29, 1992. Earlier this week, Epp made the announcement to Steinbach media at the same time as Mulroney was announcing a cabinet shuffle in Ottawa.
While Epp’s resignation from cabinet was effective at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan 4, 1993, he says he will serve out his term as Provencher’s MP, but will not seek re-election.
“I always see life as an opportunity. It’s time to move on. I’ve served 20 years and I’m pursuing other options.”
Epp told The Carillon he will likely be moving out of the riding and to another province upon his retirement.
Epp’s career has seen him fight and win six federal elections to become, with just over 20 years in office, the longest-serving Member of Parliament in the 121-year history of the Provencher constituency. (Arthur Beaubin of St Jean Baptiste came close as Provencher MP for 19 years. He was elected under the Progressive, Liberal Progressive, and Liberal Party banners, starting in 1921.)
During his tenure, Epp has served in opposition and as a member of three Conservative government cabinets. Under Prime Minister Joe Clark, he acted as Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Under Mulroney, he has served as Minister of Health and Welfare, and as Minister of Energy and Mines.
As Minister of Indian Affairs, he had the chance to gain a firm grasp of issues affecting Canada’s aboriginal people, their goals and their aspirations, Epp said Monday.
While acting as Minister of Health and Welfare he was able to convey the connection between public health and personal responsibility, Epp suggested, expressing pride in campaigns to reduce smoking, and drinking and driving, and promoting fitness during his tenure with the department.
Provencher today is also one of the strongest agricultural ridings in all of western Canada. Epp noted that parts of the riding were ineligible for Farm Credit Corportation loans 20 years ago, when he took office.
Epp says he is not leaving feeling battle-scarred, but with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, insisting he feels no ill will arising from the results of key political battles during the last two decades.
During his career he has been actively involved in the constitutional debates over the Meech Lake Constitutional Accord in 1982 and 1987, and the Charlottetown Accord in 1992.
He has also been identified with debates over Canada’s abortion law and was criticized in Manitoba for a government decision to award an aviation contract to a Montreal firm rather than to one based in Winnipeg.
Many controversial decisions were made during the Conservative government’s time in power, Epp admitted, but defends the government as acting correctly.
“I don’t believe representation is based on doing popular things only, but on doing the right thing.”
Epp said his decision to resign was not made lightly, but he did so at this time to give Conservatives in Provencher the opportunity to find a replacement candidate in time to prepare for the next federal election.
“I will not be crowning anyone, designating anyone, or blessing anyone. I will not be an active participant. I don’t want to interfere; I want to encourage.”
– with files from Tim Plett