The federal M.P. for Ontario’s Peterborough riding – Dean Del Mastro – is resigning.

Del Mastro was found guilty last week on three counts of violating the Canada Elections Act.

The member once held the lofty position of parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

But he was convicted of exceeding spending limits during the 2008 federal election, failing to report a personal contribution of $21-thousand dollars to his own campaign and knowingly submitting a falsified document.

In an emotional speech in the House of Commons today, Del Mastro said he does not want to be a distraction – or require his fellow M.P.’s to vote on his fate.

Del Mastro was expelled from the Conservative caucus on the day he was charged – and had been sitting as an Independent.