France Gelinas, Nickel Belt MPP, has declined to run to replace Howard Hampton as provincial leader of the New Democratic Party.
Although she had received a number of phone calls after Hampton's announcement on Saturday in Toronto, Gelinas said Monday morning from the legislature, she was still learning her job as a member of parliament.
“Though I am flattered by the calls I have received since Howard's announcement, I am a new politician. There is lots to learn as the member for Nickel Belt,” said Gelinas.
“The job of party leader carries a tremendous amount of responsibility,” she added.
One name Gelinas did mention as a possible choice was Gilles Bisson, provincial member for Timmins-James Bay.
This weekend, Hampton tendered his resignation as leader, effective next March, at a meeting of the Ontario NDP. Hampton told CBC Radio One on the weekend he would rather spend more time with his family but he will continue as an MPP, representing his northwestern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River.
On Monday morning on CBC Radio One Sudbury, Hampton mentioned a number of northern federal and provincial members of parliament as possible leadership candidates. Gelinas was one of the names he mentioned, along with Charlie Angus, federal member for Timmins- James Bay, Bisson and Tony Martin, federal member for Sault Ste. Marie.
