Wally Schumann has decided not to seek the Conservative nomination in the NWT during the next federal election.
"I've made up my mind that I think that the work that I'm doing in the private sector is more valuable to the Northwest Territories than running for the Conservative Party," he said on Feb. 12.
A deciding factor is a new opportunity which will soon be made public.
"I weighed my options and I struggled with my decision, but I've decided to go with the private sector because I feel I'd have more immediate impact on the Northwest Territories," he said, noting he made the decision about a month and a half ago.
Schumann was tempted to get back into politics.
"It's like a disease that gets into your blood and it's hard to shake," he said. "It's something that I'm very passionate about, and that's why it was a very hard decision for me to take this step the other way versus potentially running for the candidacy for the Northwest Territories."
When it became known last year that he was considering seeking the Conservative nomination, Schumann said he was contacted by many people encouraging him to run.
Schumann was encouraged to run
"It was a very humbling experience that people would want to entrust you to be that person to represent the Northwest Territories in Ottawa," he said. "So in some ways you feel like you're letting these individuals down, but I believe that the decision I made and the position that I'm taking in the private sector will benefit the North in a complementary way than versus being at the federal table, and taking a chance."
It looks like the next federal election will be close and maybe the Conservatives won't win, he said.
"And I think it's tough to be an MP in Ottawa if you're not the party in power. I'm the type of person that, if I ran for the Conservative Party and I was lucky enough to get elected for the NWT and the Conservative Party won in the national election, I'd want to be a cabinet member. That's certainly just the nature of who I am."
The 57-year-old Schumann would not say that his decision means the end of his political career.
"I'm certainly keeping close tabs on what's going on at the legislature, but that's two-and-a-half years away," he said of the next territorial election. "Who knows what will happen?"
In September, Schumann had said he was "leaning" towards seeking the Conservative nomination.
Former NWT cabinet minister
During the previous legislative assembly, he served as minister of infrastructure and minister of industry, tourism and investment.
In the 2019 territorial election, Schumann lost to Rocky Simpson in Hay River South.
In the last federal election, the Conservative candidate in the NWT was Yanik D'Aigle of Yellowknife.
The NWT riding is currently represented by Liberal Michael McLeod.
Schumann hopes the Conservatives decide soon on a candidate in the NWT.
"Because if they even have a hope of taking on Michael McLeod, whoever the candidate is needs more time to get out there and talk to the people," he said.
Schumann said he will support whoever is chosen as the Conservative candidate.
"And I suspect it will be a strong person who's passionate about Northern issues right across the board," he said.
A Conservative has not been elected to represent the NWT in the House of Commons since the 1980s. Back then, Dave Nickerson was elected for the Progressive Conservatives in what was called the riding of Western Arctic.
This winter, Schumann has been helping out at his former business Poison Graphics, which is now under new ownership.