Michael Bryant speaks at a news conference in Toronto on Tuesday, hours after all charges against him were dropped in connection with the death of cyclist Darcy Allan Sheppard. (Darren Calabrese/Canadian Press)

Former Ontario cabinet minister Michael Bryant, who had charges against him in the death of a bicycle courier dropped on Tuesday, is not dismissing any options when it comes to a return to politics.

Bryant's political future was thought to be hanging by a thread when he was charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death after a confrontation with Darcy Allan Sheppard on the evening of Aug. 31, 2009.

But after concluding there was no reasonable prospect of conviction, Crown prosecutor Richard Peck withdrew those charges on Tuesday.

Shortly after the charges were dropped, Bryant spoke to reporters at a Tuesday afternoon news conference — his first public comments on the case in months.

"This experience has obviously changed me," he said.

"What I will never forget for the rest of my life is the unnecessary tragedy of that night."

Bryant said he's happy with his current job at the Toronto law firm Ogilvy Renault.

But when asked if he was considering getting back into politics, he left the door open to that possibility.

"To be honest, I haven't really thought about much other than getting through this experience one day at a time," he said.

"And I don't know what the future holds. I do know that I've got some legal bills to pay and that I will be going back to work."

News conference 'a political act'

University of Toronto professor Nelson Wiseman said Bryant is already working hard to craft his public image.

"For you to call a press conference suggests you're courting attention in some sort of publicly visible way intentionally. To me that's a political act," Wiseman told CBC News.

As the charges have now been dropped, there are no obstacles to Bryant resuming his political career, said John Crean, managing partner of National, a public relations firm.

"In fact it may actually have been enhanced, depending on what he chooses to learn from the experience and how he applies it in his future endeavours," said Crean.

Some Ontario Liberals told CBC Queen's Park reporter Mike Crawley that Bryant would be welcomed back into the party at the right time and place, while others said they're not eager to work for Bryant any time soon.

Bryant was considered a star member of the legislature and a potential candidate for premier, but left a cabinet post at Queen's Park last May to head up Invest Toronto, an arm's-length agency set up by the City of Toronto to promote investment.

Bryant first was elected to the Ontario legislature in 1999. He won re-election in 2003 and became attorney general.