Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health John Oliver. Source: FACEBOOK/John Oliver

Ontario Liberal MP John Oliver says he’s leaving federal politics after one term in office to spend more time with his family.

In an open letter released Wednesday, Oliver said he resigned as parliamentary secretary to the health minister on Feb. 18 and would not seek re-election in his riding of Oakville.

The affluent Greater Toronto Area riding flipped from the Tories to the Liberals in the last election in 2015. It’s seen as prime pick-up opportunity for the Conservatives in this year’s vote.

Oliver said while it’s been an “honour and a privilege” to have represented the riding and served as a parliamentary secretary, the position has taken a toll on his family.

“These honours and privileges…come with a cost to my supportive family who have made many sacrifices to allow me to take part in public service,” his letter reads.

“In recent discussions with my family we have reached a decision that these costs have become too great for me to seek re-election.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday that Oliver would be replaced as parliamentary secretary to the health minister by Pam Damoff, who represents the neigbouring riding of North Oakville-Burlington.

In the statement announcing the appointment, Trudeau thanked Oliver for his “service and enduring commitment to Canada and Canadians.”

In his letter, Oliver signalled out his major accomplishments as working as chair of the Liberal Auto Caucus and the Health Research Caucus, his advocacy for a national pharamacare program, and “protecting Net Neutrality in Canada” through a motion he successfully moved through the House.

Prior to entering politics, Oliver previously served as an assistant deputy minister for Ontario’s Health Ministry, as well as the head of several hospitals in the GTA, including the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. He spent more than 16 years as president and CEO of Halton Healthcare Services before stepping aside in 2014.

He has also served as the chair of the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario and the Halton-Peel District Health Council.