Former governor general Edward Schreyer announced Thursday that he will run for the New Democrats in Manitoba.
Schreyer will be running in southcentral Manitoba's Selkirk-Interlake riding.
"I feel I have a contribution to make as one who has, in a sense, been serving an apprenticeship of 41 years. It's about time to get back into the fray," he said during his announcement in Winnipeg.
He said he will attempt to focus on the issues that truly matter to Canada and to Canadians, during the election campaign.
"If we spend $280 million or $300 million having an election in Canada, then it follows we should try, at least, to have an election campaign in which the issues, the really fundamental, basic issues, the bread and butter issues, are dealt with in a way that is proving, that is searching, and that means something," Schreyer said.
He said the country can't move forward until change occurs at the highest levels of leadership in Canada.
"I believe for starters that we cannot really get at the main issues in a way that is meaningful until we manage to straighten out and clean up parliament and parliamentary control of cabinet, and through cabinet, control of a Prime Minister's Office, a PMO, that is getting out of control and almost presidential. That's step one," Schreyer said.
Many have said Schreyer's candidacy represents a political milestone in the British Commonwealth, as the first time a former governor general has re-entered politics as a federal candidate.
Schreyer said there has been some confusion on this point, but said he doesn't believe he is setting a precedent. During his speech he mentioned several examples of politicians becoming Governors General, or former governor generals returning to politics.
Schreyer mentioned Roland Michener, an MP from Ontario who later became Speaker of the House and then governor general, and Lord Alexander who held the post before returning to the United Kingdom where he became minister of defense.
The 69-year-old Schreyer has established other political firsts, however. The former premier of Manitoba was the youngest member of the Manitoba Legislature when he was first elected in 1958 at 22.
He was elected to the House of Commons in 1965, but returned to provincial politics four years later as leader of the Manitoba NDP, which he led to victory in the 1969 provincial election. He served as premier until 1977.
Schreyer later became Canada's youngest governor general and commander-in-chief when he took the post at 43. He held the Rideau Hall position from 1979 until 1984.
Schreyer was also Canada's high commissioner to Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and ambassador to Vanuatu from 1984-88.
The riding of Selkirk/Interlake is comprised of Winnipeg suburbs and the city of Selkirk. The NDP had another candidate on the books for the riding, Wayne James, but he told CTV he has decided to step aside in order to let Schreyer run.
The riding is currently held by Conservative James Bezan. Thompson says NDP members told her that even though the Tories won the riding by more than 8,000 votes last time around, they can win it this time.
Schreyer has been a strong environmental advocate throughout much of his career. As Manitoba premier his government produced legislation on sustainable energy and the environment, and he is said to still hold those issues close to his heart.
Schreyer was recently appointed to the Habitat for Humanity board of directors, and also serves with the Canadian Shield Foundation, Sierra Legal Defense Fund, the Port of Vancouver Port Authority and, International Institute of Sustainable Development and the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship Board, among others.
