Former Conservative MP Dean Del Mastro has resigned as a Member of Parliament but won鈥檛 rule out running again if he successfully fights his convictions on Elections Canada Act violations.

Del Mastro announced Wednesday that he would be resigning 鈥渆ffective immediately鈥� so his former caucus-mates would not have to vote on his future.

Del Mastro, once a parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, tendered his resignation at the end of a tearful speech to the House of Commons following daily question period.

鈥淚 hope someday to be back in this place,鈥� Del Mastro said. 鈥淏ut if I don鈥檛, I鈥檒l always keep in mind that although it鈥檚 a simple chair, it represents the hopes and dreams and futures of thousands that you represent, and millions across the country.鈥�

MPs were to vote later Wednesday on an NDP motion to suspend him from the House without pay following his convictions last week on three counts of violating the Elections Canada Act.

The Conservatives had said they would back the motion, which has since been withdrawn.

Del Mastro told CTV鈥檚 Power Play that his case remains before the courts 鈥渁nd could well be there for a while.鈥�

Asked whether he will run again, he replied: 鈥淚 guess if you鈥檙e asking me if it鈥檚 goodbye, or if it鈥檚 goodbye for now, it鈥檚 probably 鈥榖ye for now.鈥�

Del Mastro had been sitting as an independent MP for the Ontario riding of Peterborough since he was charged in September 2013.

He was found guilty on Oct. 31 of exceeding campaign spending limits, failing to report a personal contribution of $21,000 to his own campaign, and knowingly submitting a falsified document.

Earlier this week, Del Mastro鈥檚 lawyers said they would be asking a judge to allow them to re-open their defence in order to present new evidence. In a statement issued Monday, Del Mastro said he has 鈥渇resh evidence鈥� that was not presented at his trial because it had not been disclosed by Elections Canada 鈥渋n a timely fashion.鈥�

Del Mastro, who denies breaking elections laws, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine for each charge.

He is also a new father. His wife gave birth to their first child, a daughter, on Sunday.

Del Mastro said his decision to step down was also spurred by his desire not to be a distraction in his riding, where his family still lives and operates businesses.

He also said that the debate over his future in the House was wasting time.

鈥淧arliament should be focused on attacking the issues of Canadians, the reasons why we鈥檙e sent there,鈥� Del Mastro told Power Play.

 He has not spoken to the prime minister since Harper鈥檚 stirring address to Parliament in the wake of the shootings at the National War Memorial and in Centre Bloc.

Stephen Lecce, a spokesperson for Harper, issued a brief statement saying 鈥渨e wish Mr. Del Mastro and his family well.鈥�