Kingston Liberal MP Ted Hsu says he won’t seek re-election in 2015

OTTAWA – Liberal MP Ted Hsu says he won’t run in next year’s federal election because he wants to spend more time with his two young daughters.

The one-term MP announced his decision in a blog post today.

Hsu says he hopes to return to politics when his children are older.

Hsu succeeded former House of Commons speaker Peter Milliken in 2011 as the member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands.

He graduated from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., with a physics degree and later earned a doctorate in physics from Princeton University.

Hsu worked as a physics researcher and as an equities trader and financial manager before getting into politics.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau thanked Hsu for his service.

“Since entering politics in 2011, Ted has distinguished himself through his hard work, which has earned him the respect and trust of colleagues from all parties in the House of Commons,” Trudeau said in a statement.

Several politicians took to Twitter to pay tribute to Hsu, including Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.

“My best to @tedhsu on his future after 2015,” Baird wrote. “A win for his family, but the House is losing a decent member of Parliament.”