Gender parity not only reason Ted McMeekin leaving Ontario cabinet post

An Ontario cabinet minister who announced his resignation as a way to help the premier achieve gender parity said Tuesday that it isn't the only reason he's leaving the job.

Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Ted McMeekin wrote in a Facebook post Monday that he is a feminist who, thinking of his three daughters and his wife, has often "dreamed of a day" when the question of gender parity wouldn't even arise.

"Sometimes the best way for a man to advance the equality of women may be to step back and make room at the table," wrote McMeekin. "Ultimately, I support the premier's leadership in this matter and I want to do what I can to help her achieve it."

Speculation about a pending shuffle is rampant at the Ontario legislature, and Wynne has said she is "taking steps towards gender parity in cabinet."

The Hamilton-area member of provincial parliament wrote that he will resign his cabinet job when Premier Kathleen Wynne names a replacement.

He said Tuesday that "nothing was the sole reason" for his pending resignation, just that gender parity was "one that I happen to believe in."

Health scares

"I think it's time," McMeekin said. "I've had the privilege of serving in the executive council for 10 years, the mandate letter that the premier gave me on the municipal affairs and housing file has been virtually completed...The premier has indicated she would like to reposition her executive council to be somewhat younger and more gender friendly and I concur with that."

He added that he will now be able to devote more time to constituents and he has had some health scares, so he is going to get a personal trainer and go on a diet. He has not decided yet whether he will run again in 2018 for his Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale riding.

McMeekin denied that he was resigning because he would be shuffled out of his post anyway.

The response to his statement was largely positive, he said.

"I received over 1,000 tweets and emails yesterday from the time I made my announcement to the time I tucked myself into bed," McMeekin said. "About 95 per cent of them, many from women, were very, very positive."

McMeekin was first elected to the legislature in 2000. He has also served as minister of government and consumer services, minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, and minister of community and social services.

Prior to his move to provincial politics, McMeekin was a Hamilton city councillor and mayor of the town of Flamborough.