Prominent NDP MP Nathan Cullen will not be seeking re-election, becoming the 13th member of his party to make such an announcement.

鈥淏efore every election -- I鈥檝e been in five of them -- before we go in my family and I always sit down and talk about whether we want to do this,鈥� Cullen told CTV News Channel Friday evening from his home in Smithers, B.C. 鈥淚 felt that representing this place and also trying to do my work in Parliament as well as having a young family, it was kind of unsustainable, actually. And it felt like this was the right time to go.鈥�

Cullen, who represents the federal riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley in northwestern B.C., made the surprise announcement Friday afternoon along the snowy banks of the Bulkley River in Smithers.

鈥淔rom the advancement of Indigenous rights and title to the protection of our rivers and coasts, from fighting for better jobs to demanding more accountability in our government, these past 15 years have been a great adventure and challenge,鈥� Cullen . 鈥淚 have experienced this work as a powerful vocation and calling, and I have given it my full heart and mind.鈥�

Cullen was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and currently serves as the NDP鈥檚 critic for democratic reform. In 2012, he placed third in his party鈥檚 race to replace its late leader, Jack Layton.

鈥淚t鈥檚 real mixed feelings today,鈥� Cullen added in his CTV interview. 鈥淚 love this work, I love being able to represent this place, and yet I also know for me and where I鈥檓 at right now that this is the right decision.鈥�

Cullen joins a growing list of NDP MPs not seeking re-election this year, including fellow B.C. MPs Murray Rankin, Kennedy Stewart, Sheila Malcolmson and Fin Donnelly, Alberta鈥檚 Linda Duncan, Ontario鈥檚 Irene Mathyssen and David Christopherson, and Quebec鈥檚 Tom Mulcair, Helene Laverdiere, Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, Anne Minh-Thu Quach and Romeo Saganash.

Despite not seeking re-election, Cullen has vowed to help the NDP and leader Jagmeet Singh in their upcoming campaign.

鈥淚 think October 2019, we鈥檙e going to surprise people -- I really do believe that,鈥� Cullen said. 鈥淚 think there鈥檚 nothing but good things with an unapologetically progressive candidate like him stepping up and offering Canadians a different choice.鈥�