OTTAWA - Former cabinet minister John Baird says he won't run for the Conservative leadership.

Baird surprised many earlier this year when he abruptly quit politics after two decades.

He held a variety of federal portfolios, including environment and foreign affairs, before stepping down.

He began his elected career with the Ontario Progressive Conservative party in 1995 before making the successful jump to federal politics in 2005.

There had been brief speculation that he was contemplating a bid to replace Stephen Harper at the Tory helm.

In a statement on Monday morning, Baird put an end to that idea.