Canada’s second-longest serving MP Lawrence MacAulay won’t say whether he’s planning to run in the next federal election.

MacAulay, who will turn 78 next month, has represented the eastern P.E.I. riding of Cardigan for 35 years, first elected in 1988. 

He is currently the longest-serving Liberal member, having won 11 consecutive elections. When asked whether he’s going for number 12, MacAulay declined to say.

“I just hope I’m alive when the next election comes around. That’s it,” he said. “When you get to my stage in life, you don’t want to get too aggressive.”

A spokesperson for MacAulay’s office confirmed the MP is not currently dealing with any serious health issues, and said he meant the comment as a joke. 

MacAulay has served under three Liberal prime ministers during his time in office. He’s currently Canada’s agriculture minister but has held multiple portfolios including solicitor general, minister of Veterans Affairs and minister of Labour. 

He is not the oldest member of Parliament: The longest-serving MP, the Bloc Québécois’s Louis Plamondon, is 80, and Vancouver Centre MP Hedy Fry is 83. 

Asked by CBC News if he would like to run again, MacAulay laughed and said, “Oh, I love politics,” but did not commit to an answer.

“I’m very pleased and honoured to do the job I do, and so thankful to the people of eastern Prince Edward Island for giving me that privilege,” he said.  

MacAulay’s long run in office has prompted many journalists to ask over the years whether he plans to run in the next election. 

This week’s response marks a slight change. For years, his standard line on whether he’d run again has been that he’s already preparing for the next election.

In May, his name did not appear on a list of confirmed Liberal candidates for the next election. The Liberal Party of Canada did not immediately respond to a request for an update on MacAulay’s status.

The Conservatives have nominated former provincial cabinet minister James Aylward to run in Cardigan. The New Democrats have nominated Stratford, P.E.I., resident Lynne Thiele. 

Though opposition parties could trigger an election at any time, the NDP has made a supply-and-confidence deal to prop up the government in exchange for movement on key issues.

If the deal lasts through the next two sittings of the House of Commons, there could be an election in the fall of 2025.