A surprise out of Ottawa.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan has resigned.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says James Moore, who is the Minister of Canadian Heritage, will take over the portfolio until a replacement is found.

Duncan will still represent his constituency of Vancouver Island North.

On Duncan’s website, he says the reason why he is resigning as minister is due to an inappropriate letter he wrote to the Canada Revenue Agency in 2011.

The person he wrote the letter for was apparently getting casework assistance from some of Duncan’s staff members in a matter related to the CRA.

The Conservative MP says the move wasn’t appropriate and he takes full responsibility for his actions.