Peggy Nash to join NDP race this week

The Toronto Star:

Ottawa — New Democrat MP Peggy Nash (Parkdale-High Park) is about to become the first woman to enter the leadership race.

The Star received a telephone call Monday from Shannon Devine, who works in communications at the Canadian Auto Workers union. She said she was compiling a list of media contacts for the “Peggy Nash campaign.”

The Toronto MP has said she was seriously considering a leadership bid, but had yet to formally announce her intentions.

The announcement is now expected to come later this week.

Nash is currently on her way to Whitehorse with the Commons finance committee for pre-budget consultations and could not be reached for comment.

Her office declined to speak on her behalf.

Nash would be the seventh person to enter the race to replace the late Jack Layton, after veteran party strategist Brian Topp, Deputy Leader Thomas Mulcair, Ottawa MP Paul Dewar, British Columbia MP Nathan Cullen, Quebec MP Romeo Saganash and Nova Scotia pharmacist Martin Singh.

Nova Scotia MP Robert Chisholm told reporters in Ottawa on Monday that he is “leaning very closely” toward entering the race and expects to make an announcement soon. Manitoba MP Niki Ashton has also said she is seriously considering a leadership bid.

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