He was one of the youngest politicians in Canada ever to be elected to federal office.
And, over the course of 15 years, James Moore handily won five terms and served as ministers of Industry, Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, secretary of state for the Asia Pacific Gateway and minister for the 2010 Olympics as well as the senior regional minister for B.C, among other things.
Now, Moore said he just wants to stay put.
What's he looking forward to the most? "Not getting on a plane every three days," the former Conservative MP laughed. "It's the security, the bags, the plane ride, being reminded how to do up your seatbelt every time."
While the frequent long-distance travel is something he won't miss, Moore, 39, said he's sorry to see his party — and his "dear friend" PM Stephen Harper — out of government.
Internal polls had shown Liberal leader Justin Trudeau was the biggest threat to the Tories nationally, he said.
Speaking from the Conservative headquarters at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club in Coquitlam Monday night, Moore told The Tri-City News he had hoped Canadians would remember how Harper had united the Conservatives and led the country through a bad economic downtown.
He had also hoped Doug Horne — the Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA who quit his seat to run federally — would replace him in Ottawa.
But Trudeau-mania took over.
Moore offered his congratulations to his successor Ron McKinnon, the Liberal candidate who met Moore at the ballot box in 2008.
Moore called him a "classy and very nice guy. If he wants to sit down and have coffee, I'd be more than happy to talk to him about being a member of Parliament."
Meanwhile, Moore's job as MP officially ended at midnight on Tuesday; however, he will continue to hold the industry portfolio until a new cabinet minister is appointed by PM Justin Trudeau. Moore expects that will happen within the next three to five weeks.
Moore, who said he made his decision to resign five months ago to be closer to his young son, said he wants to pursue a career in the private sector.
