The long time MP for New Brunswick Southwest is stepping down immediately as Minister of Veterans Affairs and as New Brunswick’s senior representative in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. Greg Thompson will remain as MP of this riding but he will not re-offer in the next federal election. Thompson was first elected to parliament in 1988 and has won 6 out of the last 7 elections. Thompson who is 62, told River Valley News he wanted to retire on his own terms and he felt the timing now was right for himself, his family and the government. “I wanted to go out on a high, not a low and I feel good about what I have done, so really I just felt the time was right,” says Thompson. “I felt that I’ve done the best job that I could and am pretty proud of my record and that’s really the note I wanted to go out on.” He says his decision leaves his successor in Veterans Affairs plenty of time to get up to speed on the portfolio before a new session begins and the local riding association has time to find a candidate to replace him before the next election is called.

Thompson says his responsibility as minister requires a lot of travel and has not allowed him to spend as much time in the riding as he would have liked. “In some regards the consistency suffers because you’re not there when you normally would be so I’ll have a chance to refocus on my riding in the last months or years of my tenure as a member of parliament,” says Thompson.  ”I’m really grateful to the people of New Brunswick Southwest for the confidence they’ve placed in me. In the closing days of my career I can really refocus on the riding.”

Thompson says being a member of parliament and representing your constituents is the best job in government. “The most gratifying part of the job is the difference you can make in the lives of ordinary constituents that come to you with a problem and often with no other place to go and you can make a difference in their lives and be there for them when they need you,” says Thompson. “The letters and support I get from ordinary people is really gratifying.”

Thompson says when the next election is called and he retires from politics, he and his wife are looking forward to doing the things they enjoy here in New Brunswick. “I like landscaping and my wife loves gardening and I do too but she’s better at it then me, so we can focus on that,” says Thompson. “I love landscaping and rock wall building and I actually love working in the woods with my chainsaw and cutting my own hardwood.  I also enjoy golf although anyone who knows me at Westfield will tell you I’m not a very good golfer. Maybe I can get out with Milt a few times. He’s the worlds second worst golfer.”

Greg Thompson couldn’t end the interview without speaking about the woman who used to own the River Valley News. “Diane Bormke was a great supporter of mine,” he says. “I really miss Diane and all the things she did for me. She believed in me and never asked for a thing. It was always about her community.”

Thompson says his role as a member of cabinet is truly gratifying but the truth is you’re on the road all the time and you don’t have a chance to enjoy your home, your friends or your community. He plans to change that soon.

The long time MP for New Brunswick Southwest is stepping down immediately as Minister of Veterans Affairs and as New Brunswick’s senior representative in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservative government. Greg Thompson will remain as MP of this riding but he will not re-offer in the next federal election. Thompson was first elected to parliament in 1988 and has won 6 out of the last 7 elections. Thompson who is 62, told River Valley News he wanted to retire on his own terms and he felt the timing now was right for himself, his family and the government. “I wanted to go out on a high, not a low and I feel good about what I have done, so really I just felt the time was right,” says Thompson. “I felt that I’ve done the best job that I could and am pretty proud of my record and that’s really the note I wanted to go out on.” He says his decision leaves his successor in Veterans Affairs plenty of time to get up to speed on the portfolio before a new session begins and the local riding association has time to find a candidate to replace him before the next election is called.

Thompson says his responsibility as minister requires a lot of travel and has not allowed him to spend as much time in the riding as he would have liked. “In some regards the consistency suffers because you’re not there when you normally would be so I’ll have a chance to refocus on my riding in the last months or years of my tenure as a member of parliament,” says Thompson.  ”I’m really grateful to the people of New Brunswick Southwest for the confidence they’ve placed in me. In the closing days of my career I can really refocus on the riding.”

Thompson says being a member of parliament and representing your constituents is the best job in government. “The most gratifying part of the job is the difference you can make in the lives of ordinary constituents that come to you with a problem and often with no other place to go and you can make a difference in their lives and be there for them when they need you,” says Thompson. “The letters and support I get from ordinary people is really gratifying.”

Thompson says when the next election is called and he retires from politics, he and his wife are looking forward to doing the things they enjoy here in New Brunswick. “I like landscaping and my wife loves gardening and I do too but she’s better at it then me, so we can focus on that,” says Thompson. “I love landscaping and rock wall building and I actually love working in the woods with my chainsaw and cutting my own hardwood.  I also enjoy golf although anyone who knows me at Westfield will tell you I’m not a very good golfer. Maybe I can get out with Milt a few times. He’s the worlds second worst golfer.”

Greg Thompson couldn’t end the interview without speaking about the woman who used to own the River Valley News. “Diane Bormke was a great supporter of mine,” he says. “I really miss Diane and all the things she did for me. She believed in me and never asked for a thing. It was always about her community.”

Thompson says his role as a member of cabinet is truly gratifying but the truth is you’re on the road all the time and you don’t have a chance to enjoy your home, your friends or your community. He plans to change that soon.