OTTAWA — Charlie Angus felt so much love Thursday, he joked that it felt like his funeral.
The outspoken, often combative New Democrat MP triggered the outpouring when he declared he would not be seeking re-election after two decades representing his far-flung northern Ontario riding.
Angus was first elected in 2004 after running under the NDP banner at the urging of the party's new leader, Jack Layton. He represented the riding of Timmins—James Bay, calling it a"real honour" to be a voice for a large Indigenous population — people"who've been written off the political map of the nation," in his words.
"I've lived on these highways, I've almost been killed on these highways," he said."I've been a part-time dad, a part-time husband and the idea of now such a vast new region pretty much made the decision for me." It was also around the time he met a 13-year-old girl named Shannen Koostachin, a budding activist from Attawapiskat First Nation members whose school was closed due to ground contamination from diesel fuel.
Angus said he will continue to be a New Democrat, and help the party campaign during future elections.
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