I won’t seek permanent leadership of Liberal party, Rae tells caucus members

OTTAWA – Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae is telling his caucus he won’t run for the permanent leadership of the party.

Sources say Rae will stay on as interim leader until a replacement is chosen.

Rae, a former Ontario premier, has led the party since the aftermath of the 2011 election, in which Michael Ignatieff lost his seat and then quit as leader.

Rae’s announcement that he won’t run comes on the same day party brass were set to announce whether he would be allowed to seek the leadership.

He took the interim leadership on the understanding that he wouldn’t run for the permanent job, but the party was expected to allow him to seek the position.

His decision leaves the leadership up for grabs, with a number of potential candidates considering their chances — including MPs Marc Garneau, David McGuinty, Joyce Murray and Dominic LeBlanc.