Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement today after Maurizio Bevilacqua announced that he is stepping down as Liberal MP for Vaughan:
“Maurizio Bevilacqua has served the people of Vaughan for 22 years as a Liberal Member of Parliament. A man of honour and principle, he is known and respected for his devotion to his community, and forging successful partnerships between governments, business and his constituents.
“As the youngest MP elected to federal Parliament in the 1988 general election, Maurizio was re-elected six consecutive times – a clear testament to his dedication to his constituents. After 22 years in office, Maurizio is a Hill veteran who has garnered respect from peers of all political stripes for striving to build consensus on complex issues and his desire for a better, more inclusive society.
“Born in Italy, Maurizio is the finest example of living the Canadian dream. As the long-time chair of the Parliamentary Finance Committee in the Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin governments, he helped the federal government turn around its finances and make landmark investments in health care and education, while championing an agenda of fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability. He served in Cabinet as Minister of State for International Financial Institutions and as Minister of State for Science, Research and Development.
“As the Liberal Party’s Citizenship and Immigration Critic, he has been an effective voice for new Canadians, whether fighting for better refugee reforms or to better fund immigration services.
“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary caucus, I wish the very best of luck to Maurizio in the next phase of his career as he seeks a new avenue to serve the people of Vaughan. I want to thank him for his service to Canada, and I look forward to his continued counsel well into the future.”
