Defence Minister Peter MacKay, long considered a possible candidate to succeed Stephen Harper as leader of the governing Conservative Party, has denied suggestions that he is leaving politics.
At a Toronto charity dinner for military families, Mr. MacKay rejected suggestions he was mulling jumping ship for a job with a Bay Street law firm.
"I've got the best job in this country and I'm thrilled to be here," the Defence Minister told reporters. "I have no plans to leave this job."
He declined to answer more questions, including whether he had ever held talks with a legal firm in Toronto.
Mr. MacKay ended the Wednesday night media availability before taking any further questions.
Mr. MacKay would be the second senior cabinet member to leave the fold this fall.
Last week, Environment Minister Jim Prentice, also considered a possible successor to Mr. Harper, announced he was quitting federal politics after six years as a federal MP.
Mr. MacKay has served in the Commons for 13 years.
The Defence Minister spent the evening before Remembrance Day as a guest of honour at a Toronto fundraising dinner for the True Patriot Love foundation, sitting at the head table with General Walter Natynczyk and Rick Hillier.
It was as he walked around the room before dinner, meeting veterans and current members of the military and shaking hands, that he denied that he was about to leave politics.
Spokesman Jay Paxton said he could not comment on speculation about any meetings that may have involved Mr. MacKay.
"I can't go and tell you that categorically there's never ever been a conversation about an afterlife after politics because all politicians in my estimation would have that," the director of communication said.
"I am not privy to all his talks. So I don't know if he has ever had a talk that said, 'You know, one day I will be out of politics, what's this, what's that. And I don't know who his buddies are."