Judy Foote to announce resignation from federal cabinet on Thursday

Judy Footewill announce her resignation from duties as a cabinet ministeron Thursday.

The longtime Newfoundland and Labrador politician has been on leave from her post as public services minister since April, when she stepped away for personal reasons.

• Judy Foote taking leave of absence, cites personal and family reasons

Sources tell CBC News Foote will announce her permanent departure at a news conference on Thursday in St. John's. She will also announce she will step away from her duties as a Member of Parliament later this year.

The announcement is expected to come at 12:30 p.m. NT at the Signal Hill information centre.

Foote began telling political supporters and close associates of her decision on Wednesday.

A senior government officialtells CBC News there will be a Newfoundland and Labrador minister in place before the federal cabinet meets in St. John's in September.

Foote was first elected to the House of Commonsin 2008 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2015 for the ridingof Bonavista-Burin-Trinity.

Term marked by popularity, power and Phoenix

She tookthe last election with 82 per cent of the vote the highest total of any candidate in the country.

But her popularity in her home district did not protect her from taking a hit when her department rolled out the Phoenix payroll system to 120,000 federal employees when it was not ready.

After its launch in February 2016, more than 80,000 public servants found themselves with pay problems most wereunderpaid, while some were overpaid or not paid at all.

• The Newfoundlander with the ear of the prime minister

At home, however, Foote was known for her power and influence within the province.

"Without her we'd be screwed," a provincial Liberal delegate told a CBC News reporter at a party meeting last fall.

The only minister I know is the one at my church.- Judy Foote

Foote was seen as being clutch in extending the federal loan guarantee to the Muskrat Falls project, saving the province millions in interest payments.

Footesaid she hated the word "minister," and saidshe and Premier Dwight Ballworked as a team.

"The only minister I know is the one at my church," she once said.

Throughout her time as minister,Footespoke with Ball on the phone every Sunday.

Foote's influence in Ottawa was no doubt seen most visibly by her position in Parliament literally at the right hand of Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons. The two were deskmates.

In her role as public services minister, she helped lock down $100 million in federal funding for Memorial University's new core sciences building. She also announced a break on a federal loan, allowing the province to reduce its deficit reduction levy for low-income earners.

We want more than our fair share.- Judy Foote

At the provincial Liberal meeting in November, Footemade an effort to affirm herself as a fighter for the province.

"We don't just want our fair share," she told thedelegates. "We want more than our fair share, we've been in the wilderness for 10 years, so bring it on."