TORONTO - The re-election bid by Ontario's governing Liberals was dealt another blow Friday with Economic Development and Trade Minister Sandra Pupatello announcing she will not run in the fall campaign.

She's the 12th member of Premier Dalton McGuinty's caucus to opt out of the Oct. 6 vote as the Liberals trail the Progressive Conservatives in public opinion polls.

Pupatello, 48, a veteran cabinet minister from Windsor West, said her 16 years at Queen's Park "flew by," and it was time for a change.

"I honestly had planned in 1995 to do this for a couple of terms, and work in economic development and trade in the second term," she told reporters in Windsor. "What happened was eight long years of opposition."

Pupatello was appointed to cabinet when the Liberals swept to power in 2003, and just before the 2007 election was given her dream job in economic development.

"That ministry was what I had waited for all my life and I was so delighted," she said. "This was manna from heaven for me."

Telling McGuinty she was leaving was the hardest part of the decision, added Pupatello.

"The premier knew I loved my job and I think that's why when we spoke last week and I actually had to tell him that I wasn't going to seek re-election, it was the toughest meeting I'd ever had," she told reporters in Windsor. "And when it was over, I felt like I was watching myself walking out of the room. Did I really just do that? Because it's a big change."

Known for her high heels, big hair and combative style, Pupatello wasn't afraid to speak her mind, earning her the respect of the opposition parties. She had to apologize for calling Toronto residents "a bunch of babies" for complaining three days into a strike by garbage collectors when Windsor had quietly been suffering through a three-month garbage strike at the time.

Pupatello said it worked in her favour that many corporate leaders around the world were surprised to find a woman as trade minister.

"I know that I was able to open the door in some markets, just being a woman from Windsor in an economic portfolio made people remember me," she said. "So by the third and fourth time I was calling they absolutely had to take a meeting with me, and I took advantage of all of those opportunities for Ontario."

McGuinty thanked Pupatello and praised her work.

"Sandra's extraordinary efforts to help Ontario get back on track after the global recession have led to new jobs and investment in Windsor and across our province," McGuinty said in a release.

The Tories claimed Liberal veterans like Pupatello are opting not to run again because they know the party is in trouble and don't want to find themselves on the opposition benches again after the election.

"If you take a look at the number of people who have stepped aside in the ranks of the Liberals, this is going to be a very changed legislature in the fall," said PC critic Peter Shurman. "Maybe Sandra is saying to herself 'You know, I don't know if I want to be part of it, and the likelihood is we're going to be in Opposition. Been there, done that."'

Pupatello was "a good, strong female cabinet minister" but that doesn't mean the Liberals will keep the Windsor West seat, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.

"I don't think there's a single, safe Liberal seat in the province of Ontario," said Horwath. "I think there is a growing sense on that side (of the House) that the fortunes of the government have turned for the worst and people are no longer as secure with their seats."

Other Liberals who have decided not to run this fall include former cabinet ministers Gerry Phillips and David Ramsay, Speaker Steve Peters, government house leader Monique Smith, and backbenchers Pat Hoy, Jim Brownell, Wayne Arthurs and Marc Lalonde. Pupatello's fellow Windsor-area Liberal Bruce Crozier had also decided not to run for re-election but died suddenly last week, just two days after the legislature adjourned.

Several high profile Liberals have yet to schedule their nomination meetings, including Community Safety Minister Jim Bradley and former cabinet ministers Greg Sorbara and David Caplan.

The Liberals aren't worried about losing Windsor West and will quickly find a good candidate to replace Pupatello, said Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne, the Liberal campaign co-chair.

"The government is not individuals, it's a team, and she's helped us to lay the groundwork in lots of areas," said Wynne. "We're very confident that we'll be able to field a terrific campaign there and hold onto that seat."

Four Progressive Conservatives and veteran New Democrat Peter Kormos have also announced they are not seeking re-election. The Tories have nominated about 100 of the 107 candidates while the NDP have nominated only a handful.

Pupatello was joined at the news conference Friday by her husband, lawyer Jim Bennett, the former leader of the Newfoundland Liberal Party. She said she had no immediate plans for her future.

"I don't have a position that I'm looking for or coveting at this point, and I'm not going to think about it at this point ... until Oct. 6."