Blaikie wants to lead NDP

OTTAWA - (Web posted June 17, 2002 @ 1:55 p.m.) - Bill Blaikie has launched his campaign to become the next leader of the NDP.

The Manitoba member of Parliament made the announcement on Monday morning in Winnipeg.

The six-term MP is the first person to announce their intention to seek the job, which party leader Alexa McDonough  relinquished on June 5.

Blaikie, an ordained United Church Minister, grew up in Transcona, Manitoba and was first elected to Parliament in 1979.

He has served as the NDP critic on a wide variety of portfolios including social policy and health, the environment, external affairs and taxation policy.

Blaikie now serves as New Democratic Party House Leader and the critic on intergovernmental affairs, parliamentary reform, and justice.

Other contenders, who may be interested in winning the job McDonough said she was leaving in order to "kick start the next phase" of the party's future, include MPs Svend Robinson and Lorne Nystrom, Toronto City Councillor  Jack Layton and Canadian Auto Workers' boss Buzz Hargrove.

The party has not announced a date for its leadership convention.

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