Quebec Premier Jean Charest should ensure the next Liberal candidate in retiring Russell Copeman's Montreal riding is an English speaker, some MNAs say.

Copeman, who represented the riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce since 1994, announced his resignation Wednesday, saying he no longer has the drive for politics.

He is leaving to take a job at Concordia University as associate vice-president of government relations.

Liberal MNA Lawrence Bergman said Copeman's departure is a loss and he hopes another anglophone can be found to run on the Liberal ticket in the riding.

Another colleague, high-profile MNA Geoffrey Kelley, said the composition of the National Assembly should continue to reflect the anglophone population, the largest minority in the province.

"Certainly that [an English speaker] is my first choice," he said. "If asked for advice, I would hope that NDG [Notre-Dame-de-Grâce ] would continue to be represented by someone who reflects the diversity of Quebec."

Copeman did not want to talk about his possible replacement, saying only that "it's quite appropriate that a parliament reflect the diversity of Quebec society and I believe that's a goal the premier shares."

Charest has six months to call a byelection in the riding.