Lewis Cardinal suspends run for NDP for personal, health reasons

Aboriginal activist and educator Lewis Cardinal sayshe's not going to run for the NDP in the next federal election afterall.

Cardinal issued a statement on Thursday saying he will bestepping down as the party's candidate in Edmonton Centre "due to personal and health reasons" without specifying what those reasonsare.

It was just a few weeks ago that federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcairmade a stop in Edmonton to mark Cardinal's nomination.

Cardinal says it was a difficult decision to make but says he'shopeful "a strong candidate will step forward" to replace him.

There had been hope within the party that Cardinal might have ashot at the riding because the incumbent, Tory Laurie Hawn, is notrunning.

Alberta's only NDP member of Parliament, Linda Duncan, had calledit a "priority riding" for the party.