Canada Foreign Minister John Baird Steps Down

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, who carved out a more assertive role for Canada on major international issues, announced Tuesday he is stepping down and will not stand in upcoming elections.

The surprise departure of one of Prime Minister Stephen Harper's most trusted lieutenants is a major loss as the conservative leader seeks a fourth mandate to govern in October elections.

Baird told Parliament he spoke to Harper Monday night and "informed him I was standing down from cabinet."

"I expressed my intention not to run in the next general election... and I also expressed my intention to stand down as member of parliament... in the weeks ahead," he said.

The 45-year-old Baird gave no reason for his decision to step down after a 20-year career in Canadian politics in which he held 10 ministerial posts at both the federal level and in Ontario.

"John has always been willing to do a lot of heavy lifting in my various cabinets and has assumed daunting new responsibilities with unsurpassed energy, commitment and professionalism, never losing sight of the fact that he was serving the Canadian people," Harper said in a statement.

As foreign minister, Baird firmed up Ottawa's staunch support of Israel, expanded Canada's military reach abroad and aligned development aid with the nation's trade priorities.

He also has taken on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, the Islamic State and the Ebola crises.

Most recently he worked for the release of Egyptian-Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy from an Egyptian jail -- which Baird said Monday was "imminent."

A successor was not immediately announced. Possible contenders include Jobs Minister Jason Kenney or Transport Minister Lisa Raitt.

Baird's departure from the cabinet follows that of finance minister Jim Flaherty last year, who died a short time later.

Their absence leaves Harper without two close collaborators as his party faces elections in October.

Baird urged pundits not to underestimate Harper, however.

"When many others counted him out, I believed in this prime minister and I continue to believe in him today, all these years later," he said.

"There is no better person to lead our country into its 150th year. He is one of our country's great leaders," he added.

A former environment and transport minister, Baird had been in Parliament since 2006.

Friends and foes in the House called him "Rusty." In the press he earned the nickname "Bulldog" for his ardent and eloquent defense of government policies.

"I was perhaps just a little naive, driven by ideology, defined by partisanship, at the age of 25" at the start of his political career.

He said he has since learned, "You need, instead, to be defined by your values."

Baird did not say what he planned to do next, but it was widely assumed he would take a job in the private sector.