Manley says Parliament Hill won't be the same without Bob Wood

John Manley says Parliament Hill just won't seem the same without his good friend Bob Wood.

The federal Finance Minister was reacting to Wood's announcement Friday morning he was retiring from politics.

Wood said he was confirming "what’s probably the worst-kept secret in Nipissing," that he would not be seeking the federal Liberal nomination for the election expected next spring.

Manley told baytoday.ca he launched Wood's '97 election campaign by proclaiming him to be "the most annoying MP" in the area, because of his hard work for constituents of the Nipissing riding.

"Bob just has a knack of identifying the things that he thinks might be interesting and useful for his constituency - and he delivers," Manley said.
"He has been very successful because he is good at making a good case for his community, putting constituents' needs before his own and of course, his persistency. I wish him all the best in his retirement."

Ducks in a row
Wood said he's had "a great run" and didn't believe he should "hang on" any longer.

"The time has come to move on with my life and contrary to all the other things that you hear I’m not retiring because I want to spend more time with my family," Wood said.

"I’m retiring to do something else. I have no idea what it is but I want to do something else."

Wood said he was making his announcement early to allow the executive of the Nipissing Federal Liberal Association to begin the candidate selection process for his successor.

The riding has been expanded to include parts of the Tri-Towns, Wood said.

"It's going to be a huge riding, so anyone who wants to succeed me will need time to establish themelves, to get their ducks in a row," Wood told a roomful of party faithful, friends, staff and supporters.

"I'm hoping this will rejuvenate the Liberal association and keep it the great association that it is.
It’s been great, it’s all been wonderful and I'll always remember you in my heart."

People get stale
Wood said he’s been MP “long enough” and it would be good for the riding to have a new person on the job.

“It would be good for Nipissing to have new ideas and a person whose going to do things in a different way that I did,” Wood said.

“We need that kind of turnover. I mean how often have you seen people get stale and stay forever and ever and ever.”

Wood, who backed Manley for leader of the Liberal party, said his decision didn’t really have anything to do with Paul Martin’s ascent to prime minister in waiting.

“Although if we’re going to have a new prime-minister, why not have a new MP,” Wood said.

Things may have been different, on the other hand, if Manley had been the top leadership candidate, Wood said.

But Wood's age was definitely a factor in stepping down, he said.

“I’m 63 and if I would have won in the next selection it would have been another four years in office, and I had to ask myself if I wanted to be doing this job when I’m 67 or 68.”

Wouldn't turn one down
When asked if he anticipated a patronage appointment from Prime Minister Jean Chretien Wood said, “Not that I know of, but I wouldn’t turn one down if it came.”

While he doesn’t have anything in mind yet for his next career, Wood mentioned some things he wouldn’t mind doing, including being “second-hand man” to John Wilson, chairman of the Downtown Improvement Area.

“I think it’s very important to revitalize the downtown of North Bay and I’d live to volunteer to be part of doing something like that,” Wood said.

Wilson said he would “go over there right away and recruit Bob for one of our committees.”

Wood said he wouldn’t even mind being “a delivery boy.”
“I’ve been delivering money for the last 15 years,” he laughed.

Turned it down
At just over 15 years, Wood, pictured above at Friday's news conference, became the longest-serving MP in Nipissing’s history last month breaking the record that belonged to another Liberal, Joseph Hurtubise.

Wood, a former radio morning man, was elected Nov. 21, 1988, beating Progressive Conservative MP Moe Mantha.

Ironically Wood ran for the Liberals almost by default.

“In 1988 I was asked to run and I turned it down, but accepted when I was asked again,” Wood told baytoday.ca.

“I went around to other prominent Liberals in town offering to pull out if they wanted to run instead of me, but they all told me to go ahead and run and rejuvenate the party.”