After nearly 30 years in provincial politics and seven terms as MLA for the Cannington constituency, Dan D'Autremont has announced his upcoming retirement.

He will remain as MLA until his current term is up in 2020, at which point he will not seek renomination.

He released the news Thursday evening in Arcola in front of many of his constituents, during the town's 'Meet The Premier' event.

Premier Scott Moe was present at the time, and had shining words to say about the long-serving Member of Legislature.

This man...is a founding member of our party. He's a stalwart MLA. He's the most distinguished politician, when you look at his history over the past 27 years serving in the Legislature on behalf of the people in this corner of the province and on behalf of all of the people across the province. He has served in virtually every office in government, in cabinet, in caucus, in opposition, and on the government side. He's been a House leader, he's been a Speaker, and  he's most certainly our most distinguished politician in our province. He is a mentor for many of us. Myself being elected in 2011, I had the opportunity to sit with Dan for one session and listen to all of his comments as we made our way through the session and he has most truly been a mentor for so many, myself included."

"I've done almost all the things I wanted to do, but not quite, there's still a couple left. So I'm looking forward to the next two years, and I'm looking forward to someone else taking over," added D'Autremont.

He first dipped his toe into politics in 1976, when he wrote letters to the federal government regarding gun control. He moved back to the farm, from Alberta, in 1977 and immediately jumped into the 1978 election campaign. He's been involved ever since, with his first term starting in 1991 and every term following.

Lookin back, D'Autremont identified a couple of accomplishments in his tenure that seem to have been his most significant.

"A...the formation of the Saskatchewan Party. The second would be the rewriting of all of the rules that the Legislature operates under. I, and another MLA, were the ones who did that, When they say I know all the rules, it's because I wrote them," he quipped.

When it comes to the future of Cannington and the SaskParty, the feisty politician expressed that he'd like to leave, "A legacy of hard work, and listening to the people of your constituency."