REGINA — Regina Northeast MLA Ron Harper has a lot of items on his to-do list but running for re-election in 2011 isn't one of them.

The veteran NDP politician announced Wednesday that he will retire at the end of his current term, after 16 years in provincial politics.

"I think the time is right on two fronts. The time is right for the party to provide the opportunity for renewal to bring in some blood, new enthusiasm and I think that's important," said Harper, 62.

"But it's also that the time is right for me personally. I'm at a point in time in my life that retirement would provide me the option of being able to do some of the things that I've always wanted to."

Harper served as MLA for the former Pelly constituency from 1991-1995. He returned to the legislature as the MLA for Regina Northeast in 1999.

Harper joked that he has "never been chased off the doorstep" even when people didn't share his politics.

"It's been a fantastic experience," Harper said, adding that he learned a lot about "the kindness of Saskatchewan people."

He said he looks forward to achieving the items on his "someday list" such as travelling, including to Ukraine where his wife has roots and to other areas in Europe where family members served during the Second World War.

Harper held on to the Regina Northeast constituency in the 2007 election by a margin of 750 votes.

The Saskatchewan Party has already nominated a candidate, Kevin Doherty, for the 2011 election.

But Harper said if there was a "low ebb" of NDP support in the constituency it came in the 2007 election as the Sask. Party took office, and predicts his successor can hold the seat.

Harper, who supported NDP Leader Dwain Lingenfelter in the party leadership contest, is the second long-serving NDP MLA to say he will retire in 2011, following an announcement earlier this year by Regina Coronation Park's Kim Trew.

ahall@leaderpost.canwest.com