Veteran Quebec Liberal cabinet minister Jean-Marc Fournier won't run in fall election

Jean-Marc Fournier, a senior cabinet ministerand government house leader, has decided not to seek re-election in October.

Fournier, 58,made the announcement at a news conference this afternoon. He said the time had come to "pass the torch"to new faces within the party.

He told reporters he will help the Liberals during the campaign before leaving provincial politics.

The MNA for Saint-Laurenthasserved a number of cabinet positions since first being elected to the National Assembly in 1994.

He is currentlythe minister responsible for Canadian Relations and the Canadian Francophonie.

His announcement comes a week afterStphanie Valle, the province's justice minister, also said she wouldn't run again on Oct. 1.

He is the sixth member of the Liberal caucus to confirm he won't be running again. At least seven others are also considering quitting.

Opinion polls show the Liberals trailingthe Coalition Avenir Qubecin the polls.

The Liberals currently hold 69 of the 125 seats inthe legislature.