Kanata–Carleton MPP Merrilee Fullerton resigns

© Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press Merrilee Fullerton, former Ontario minister of Children, Community and Social Services, resigned Friday from her role as MPP.

Progressive Conservative MPP for Kanata–Carleton Merrilee Fullerton is resigning.

The former minister of children, community and social services was first elected in the 2018 Ontario election.

Fullerton announced her resignation Friday afternoon in a tweet and attached a resignation letter in which she expressed appreciation to Premier Doug Ford, her cabinet colleagues and constituents.

“I am grateful to the constituents of Kanata and West Carleton who have supported me in my efforts to improve the lives of others,” Fullerton wrote in her resignation letter. “It has been an honour to represent Kanata–Carleton in the Ontario legislature.”

Fullerton did not immediately give a reason for her resignation, and her office did not comment in response to a question from CBC.

Fullerton first won the Kanata–Carleton riding in 2018 with more than 43 per cent of the vote. She was re-elected in 2022 with a nearly identical share of popular support.

In office, Fullerton has held three cabinet positions: minister of training, colleges and universities, minister of long-term care and two terms as minister of children, community and social services.

The premier’s office named Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa as Fullerton’s replacement as minister of children, community and social services.

Fullerton oversaw the Ministry of Long-Term Care through nearly two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in June 2019.

During news conferences at the time, Fullerton often blamed chronic underfunding by previous governments for COVID-related deaths in long-term care.

Before politics, Fullerton practised as a medical doctor in Ottawa and served on the city’s board of health.