MP Wasylycia-Leis leaving Parliament

WinnipegMP Judy Wasylycia-Leis is giving up her seat in Parliament.

Effective May 1, the longtimeNDP politician will resign the Winnipeg North seat she has held since 1997.

Wasylycia-Leis, 58, made the announcement Tuesday in Ottawa.

There has been speculation she intends to run for mayor of Winnipeg in the civic election thisfall. However, adecision has yet to be made, she told CBC News earlierTuesday.

Wasylycia-Leis,who was also a cabinet minister in the Manitoba government of Howard Pawley from 1986 to 1988,is currently the federal NDP health critic.

She has also served as caucus chair andfinance critic during her tenure.

Wasylycia-Leissaid Tuesday that it istime to move on but did not elaborate. Shewants to spend time with her family before making an announcement about her future.

"It's the right time for me to move on. I've had 14 glorious years representing Winnipeg North," she said.

'This is a great, great city, but we're in many ways launguishing and lacking in direction.' Judy Wasylycia-Leis

"There is much more to do but I think it's time for me to move on and think about other decisions in my life."

She has been urged by a number of people to take aim at municipal politics and challenge incumbent mayor Sam Katz. It's something she admits she is giving serious thought.

"This is a great, great city, but we're in many ways launguishing and lacking in direction. And people are looking for a strong voice, an alternative, a new vision, someone with a plan of action," she said.

Wasylycia-Leis is already considered a front-runner among those challenging Katz. According to a poll conducted in March, which asked Winnipeg voters who they favour as mayor in the election, she received the support of slightly more than one in three respondents.

It was only a hypothetical race, however, since only two of the five people presented as choices Katz and city Coun. Lillian Thomas had declared their intention to run.

Katz, who has been the city's mayor since 2004, garnered 51 per cent of support in the Probe Research/Winnipeg Free Press poll.

Even though Wasylycia-Leis hasn't committed to the mayor's race, Katz saidher resignation from federal politicsis as good as aconfirmation that she plans to take a run at his seat.

He saidshe will bring years of experience and"heavy political machinery" to her campaign but heis up for the challenge.

"Every opponent is tough. I've never taken anything for granted before and I won't take it for granted now," he said.

Medicare warrior

NDP Leader Jack Layton said Wasylycia-Leis has been one of the country's most determined and effective health-care advocates.

"Judy has been a warrior on this issue in our caucus," Layton said in a statement Tuesday, echoing praise from Shirley Douglas, daughter of medicare founder Tommy Douglas, who once calledWasylycia-Leis "Canada's medicare warrior."

"She has been a much-valued member of our caucus. She will be a hard act to follow," he said.

"I wish her well in her next adventure. I know she will always be a loyal member of the New Democrat family. We'll miss her cheerful can-do attitude."