Former Liberal leadership contender Bob Rae says he hopes to run in the federal riding of Toronto Centre, adding that he won't be surprised if he's campaigning soon against Stephen Harper's Conservatives.  

"We have to be ready," Rae, one of three former leadership contenders without a seat in the House of Commons, said in an interview with CBC News in Toronto on Wednesday.

Bob Rae, left, and Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, right, gesture at the Toronto City Summit Alliance Feb. 27.
(Aaron Harris/Canadian Press)

"It's really up to Mr. Harper when we have an election … but by the way he's campaigning and by the way he's spending, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see it's possible."

Rae cited the Tories' attack ads targeting Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion as an indication of Harper's plans.

"Those sure look like election ads to me," he said. "It's an indication of where the Conservative mindset is."

Rae also voiced support for his embattled former rival Dion, who won the leadership race in December but has since seen his popularity plummet amid rumblings from within his own party over his performance.

"No one should underestimate Mr. Dion," Rae said. "He's resilient. He's a man of substance.

"He should be himself."

Decision expected

Rae said he would make his bid official by filing nomination papers with Liberal headquarters Wednesday.

The Liberal incumbent for Toronto Centre, Bill Graham, announced last month he would not seek re-election.

Rae's return to federal politics was expected after his run last year for the Liberal leadership. He finished third behind Dion and Michael Ignatieff.

In 1978, Rae won a byelection to take a seat in Parliament as an New Democratic Party member. He switched to provincial politics in Ontario in 1982 and served as NDP premier from 1990 to 1995.

The nomination is likely to be contested by other Liberal candidates, including human rights advocate Meredith Cartwright. One potential rival, Rob Oliphant, has withdrawn from the challenge.

But Cartwright told the CBC's Susan Bonner Thursday that she looked forward to challenging Rae for the nomination and has no intentions of stepping aside.

"It's great for democracy," she said. "It's great for the party. It's great for the riding to have an open and fair contest.

"I'm in it to win."

The other two former leadership contenders without a seat in the House of Commons — Martha Hall Findlay and Gerard Kennedy — are also planning to run for the Liberals in Toronto in the next election.

Kennedy has announced his intention to seek the nomination in Parkdale-High Park, currently held by the NDP's Peggy Nash.

Hall Findlay, who finished last in the eight-person leadership contest, is expected to be the Liberal candidate in Willowdale. The riding now is held by Jim Peterson, who is is expected to announce Thursday that he will not seek re-election.

Rae also shrugged off opposition to his candidacy from the Canadian Federation of Students, an organization he labelled the victim of a "partisan takeover."

The federation has targeted Rae over his 2004 review of Ontario's post-secondary education system, in which he advocated the removal of the province's tuition fee freeze.

"It's not new to me," he said.

With files from the Canadian Press