Canada foreign minister quits amid talk of government tension

The unexpected resignation of Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird on Tuesday means that the Conservative government will be without one of its most skilled members as it prepares for an election in October when it will face a formidable challenge from the Liberal Party, which has found new life.

Baird’s retirement came amid speculation of a rift with Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office over Russia policy, but Baird, 45, said it was simply time to begin a new chapter in his life, and he paid heartfelt homage to Harper.

His relations with Harper’s administration have soured in the last several months, political sources told Reuters. He reportedly encouraged Ottawa to impose sanctions on President Vladimir Putin’s friends who have commercial connections to Canada. The office of Harper overruled the minister.

An extremely political individual, Baird was well-liked inside the party and one of Harper’s most devoted lieutenants. Being a seasoned politician, he would have been crucial to Conservative electoral strategy.

Polls show the Conservatives tied with the Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, the son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and that they will virtually surely lose their parliamentary majority in the October election.

Baird became foreign minister in May 2011, after being notably critical of Russia’s role in Ukraine and a staunch supporter of Israel. The journalist, Mohamed Fahmy, is Canadian-Egyptian; he was being held in an Egyptian prison on allegations of distributing false information to support “a terrorist organization.” He was fighting to get Fahmy out of prison.

As soon as the Conservatives came to power in early 2006, Baird joined the government and had a number of important positions. In 2009, Canadian media claimed that he sparked a sensation by sending a text message proclaiming “Thatcher has died”. It didn’t take long to realize that he was talking about his ca, not the politician.

Harper accepted Baird’s resignation “with great regret,” according to a statement he released, while Baird’s cabinet colleagues denied knowing that Baird was preparing to leave so quickly.

Trade Minister Ed Fast will temporarily assume the position of foreign minister until Harper names Baird’s replacement. Employment Minister Jason Kenney, Treasury Board Minister Tony Clement, and veteran diplomat Chris Alexander are among those considered as candidates for the position.