Schreyer will run in the Selkirk/Interlake riding, which is just north of Winnipeg between Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis in the west and Lake Winnipeg in the east.
At age 69 – Schreyer said his 70th birthday is next week – the former representative of the Queen said he's only two years older than Prime Minister Paul Martin.
"I feel I have a contribution to make..." he said. "It's time to get back into the fray."
Ed Schreyer announces his candidacy, Thursday.
Schreyer, a former premier of Manitoba and onetime MP, served as governor general from 1979-84, a controversial appointment at the time.
There should be no controversy about his return, Schreyer said. "There's also some precedent, in case you are wondering, for a governor general ... to re-enter public life. There's a lot of misunderstanding about that."
Schreyer said he wants to fix the Canadian parliamentary system, which he says is being damaged by too much power being concentrated in the prime minister and the Prime Minister's Office.
Governor General Ed Schreyer and his wife Lily look on as Pierre Trudeau bows and greets the Queen upon her arrival in Ottawa, April 15, 1982. (CP photo)
The seat Schreyer is seeking is currently held by Conservative MP James Bezan. In the 2004 vote, Bezan defeated New Democrat Duane Nicol by 8,211 votes.
At age 22, Schreyer became the youngest member of the Manitoba legislature in 1958.
He was elected to the House of Commons in 1965. Four years later, he became the leader of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and served as premier from 1969 to 1977.
When Schreyer become governor general at 43, he was the youngest to hold the position since Lord Lorne in 1878 at age 33, and Lord Lansdowne in 1883 at 38. After his term, he was appointed high commissioner to Australia.
He has since returned to Winnipeg, where he works as the national representative for Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit housing organization.
In the last election campaign, the NDP introduced another star candidate, with the announcement that former NDP leader Ed Broadbent would run in the riding of Ottawa Centre. Broadbent, who won the seat, is not seeking re-election.
Voters go to the polls Jan. 23.
