Former PC leader Tim Hudak will resign his Niagara-West Glanbrook seat

Former Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak willresign his seat in the legislature next month and become CEO of theOntario Real Estate Association.

Hudak, who was first elected in 1995 at the age of 27, says after21 years in provincial politics it's time to make a change, so he'llstep down from his Niagara West-Glanbrook seat on Sept. 16.

Hudak had served in the cabinet of Mike Harris and was elected PCleader in 2009, but failed to defeat the Liberal government in the2011 and 2014 elections.

His wife, Deb Hutton, was a senior adviser to Harris when the twomet and married.

Hudak came under widespread criticism, even from manyConservatives, in 2014 when he promised to fire 100,000 public sectorworkers if the Tories got elected, an issue many blamed for theirdefeat.

He emerged as a stronger MPP after stepping down as leaderfollowing the 2014 defeat, championing the sharing economy and moreliberalized liquor laws, but never seemed to see eye-to-eye with newPC Leader Patrick Brown.

The 49-year-old Hudak has also been hosting a radio talk show onweekends that is syndicated in several Ontario cities.

"These past 21 years have been tremendously rewarding, and Iwill miss my colleagues in all three parties," Hudak said in arelease Tuesday. "I want to thank all of them, past and present, for their friendship, leadership and advice."

Brown issued a statement thanking Hudak for his public service.

"I was moved by his compassionate and emotional speech in thelegislature in opposition to the Liberal government's callous cutsto autism therapy," said Brown.

Premier Kathleen Wynne will have six months after Hudak resignsto call a byelection in his riding. There is already a vacancy inthe Ottawa-Vanier riding created when former attorney generalMadeleine Meilleur resigned in June.

There is already a byelection scheduled Sept. 1 inScarborough-Rouge River to replace former MPP Bas Balkissoon.