Canadian MP Bill Graham to step down, Rae seeks his Toronto riding
{{date|February 23, 2007}}
{{Canadian news}}

{{w|Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal}} MP and former leadership candidate [[Bill Graham]] says he will not run for re-election in his riding of {{w|Toronto Centre}}. Graham, 67, made the announcement to the executive of his [[Toronto]] riding association Thursday night.

{{missing image|Image:Bill Graham Chile 2003.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bill Graham}}
[[Bob Rae]], former NDP premier of [[Ontario]] from 1990 to 1995 and Liberal leadership candidate, will announce his candidancy for the Liberal nomination in the riding in the coming days, according to reports. Toronto lawyer Meredith Cartwright and United Church minister Rob Oliphant are also expected to contest the nomination which will likely be decided in April.

Rae spoke of Graham's experience but made his election intentions secret. Rae does not have a seat in Parliament.

"[Graham] has been a great representative of Toronto Centre ... and a terrific minister. Today is certainly not about speculation, it is about Bill," said Rae. "I shall be making my intentions known in the very near future."

Graham was a lawyer before entering politics and has served in cabinet and as interim Liberal leader in opposition. He has served as  Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defence under Prime Ministers [[Jean Chrétien]] and [[Paul Martin]] respectively. In 2006, when the Conservatives took power and Paul Martin stepped down, he was appointed interim leader of the party until [[Stéphane Dion]] was elected.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/02/23/graham-politics.html
|title=Graham retiring from federal politics
|author=
|pub=CBC News
|date=February 23, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=f3832ce6-b3f1-4517-b896-58ba29e59c72&k=52625
|title=Graham set to vacate seat
|author=Canadian Press
|pub=Canada.com
|date=February 22, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070222/graham_seat_070222/20070222?hub=Politics
|title=Bill Graham set to vacate seat, sources say
|author=
|pub=CTV
|date=February 22, 2007}}

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[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Canada]]
[[Category:Ontario]]
[[Category:Toronto, Ontario]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Bill Graham]]
[[Category:Bob Rae]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Canada]]
Liberal MP and former leadership candidate Bill Graham says he will not run for re-election in his riding of . Graham, 67, made the announcement to the executive of his Toronto riding association Thursday night.


Bob Rae, former NDP premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995 and Liberal leadership candidate, will announce his candidancy for the Liberal nomination in the riding in the coming days, according to reports. Toronto lawyer Meredith Cartwright and United Church minister Rob Oliphant are also expected to contest the nomination which will likely be decided in April.

Rae spoke of Graham's experience but made his election intentions secret. Rae does not have a seat in Parliament.

"Graham has been a great representative of Toronto Centre ... and a terrific minister. Today is certainly not about speculation, it is about Bill," said Rae. "I shall be making my intentions known in the very near future."

Graham was a lawyer before entering politics and has served in cabinet and as interim Liberal leader in opposition. He has served as  Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defence under Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin respectively. In 2006, when the Conservatives took power and Paul Martin stepped down, he was appointed interim leader of the party until Stéphane Dion was elected.
North America Canada Ontario Toronto, Ontario Politics and conflicts Bill Graham Bob Rae Liberal Party of Canada