Veteran MP Dawn Black will leave the federal NDP to throw her hat into the ring for B.C.'s next provincial election.

Black, the party's defence critic, will seek the nomination in the provincial riding of New Westminster, a traditional NDP stronghold.

New Democratic MLA Chuck Puchmayr, who was diagnosed with liver cancer in January, currently holds the riding.

"Fortunately, he has had a liver transplant and is on the long road to recovery, but what it's meant is that he is unable to run for re-election in the city of New Westminster provincially," Black said.

"He amongst many others have approached me and asked me to consider going for the nomination. And I've decided, after a lot of thought, a lot of consultation, I will undertake that challenge."

Under the NDP's current rules, when a sitting New Democratic MLA retires, the party must choose a female replacement candidate for the next election.

Black is so far the only declared candidate for the nomination battle, which will be held on March 29.

Black was first elected to Parliament in 1988, where she served as the MP for New Westminster-Burnaby until 1993.

She was re-elected as MP for New Westminster-Coquitlam in 2006 and 2008.

Provincially, Black said her biggest concern would be the issue that first attracted her to politics — the future of health care.

B.C.'s provincial election will be on May 12.