OTTAWA - Bob Rae will officially launch Wednesday his bid to return to the federal political arena after a quarter-century absence from Parliament Hill.
The former Ontario NDP premier, who finished third in the Liberal leadership race, is expected to announce his intention to seek the Liberal nomination in Toronto Centre.
"I'm putting an end to speculation about what I'm going to do," Rae confirmed in an interview.
Rae has been expected to throw his hat in the ring ever since Bill Graham, the incumbent Liberal in the downtown Toronto riding, announced last month that he won't seek re-election.
Rae will not have the nomination handed to him. While one potential rival candidate for the nomination, Rob Oliphant, has withdrawn from the race, human rights advocate Meredith Cartwright is expected to challenge Rae.
Rae is one of three former leadership contenders without a seat in the House of Commons. The other two -- Martha Hall Findlay and Gerard Kennedy -- are also planning to run for the Liberals in Toronto in the next election.
Kennedy has already announced his intention to seek the nomination in Parkdale-High Park, currently held by the NDP.
Hall Findlay, who finished last in the eight-person leadership contest, is expected to be appointed the Liberal candidate in Willowdale. That riding is currently held by Jim Peterson, who is not expected to seek re-election.
Rae first entered federal politics in 1978, winning a Toronto byelection for the NDP. He held his seat in two subsequent elections, and moved the confidence motion that toppled Joe Clark's Tory minority government in 1979.
He left Ottawa to become the Ontario NDP leader in 1982, and served as premier from 1990 to 1995.
