Suze Morrison, the NDP MPP for Toronto Centre, on Monday announced she won’t be running in the upcoming election due to her struggles with endometriosis.

Morrison wrote in a press release, “I was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2019. My pain has worsened over the past two years. I’m doing well, but being an MPP is a demanding role and I need to slow down for a while and get my pain under control.”

“Standing alongside (NDP Leader) Andrea Horwath, the NDP caucus, and the incredible people of Toronto Centre — and standing up to Doug Ford’s cuts — has been the greatest privilege of my life,” Morrison said.

Horwath thanked Morrison for her work in a statement. “While we’ll miss her at the caucus table, she’s a devoted New Democrat, and I know she’ll be an important part of our movement going forward, as well as a trusted friend.”

Morrison is the fifth NDP MPP to step aside in the upcoming election, joining Percy Hatfield, Taras Natyshak, Ian Arthur and Rima Berns-McGown. Hamilton MPP Paul Miller was booted from the NDP caucus but said he’ll be running as an independent.

While traditionally a Liberal riding, Morrison flipped Toronto Centre for the NDP after a decade of Liberal dominance. Morrison won a 26 per cent victory over Liberal candidate David Morris in 2018. The riding goes Liberal federally and has been the seat of a number of high-profile ministers including Bob Rae, Chrystia Freeland, Bill Morneau and most recently, Marci Ien.

Morris, who Morrison beat in 2018, is once again the Liberal candidate. The PCs are putting up Jess Goddard as its candidate and the Green’s candidate is Nicki Ward.

In Brief: NDP MPP Suze Morrison won’t run for re-election in June

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