Ottawa mayoralty lures Liberal minister Watson

Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Jim Watson wants to be Ottawa's mayor again, CBC News has learned.

A source close to the Liberal MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean confirmed that Watson will announce his candidacy Tuesday morning.

In a year-end interview with CBC News, Watsonhad beennon-committal when asked if he had designs on the mayor's seat that heheldbetween 1997 and 2000.

Coun. Alex Cullen and Robert G. Gauthier, former publisher of the independent newspaper National Capital News, have already announcedtheir candidacies forthe job.

"He is going to have a major impact on this race due to his personality," Cullen said, when asked about the possibility of Watson's candidacy, before adding:"Style is nice, but it's substance that counts."

"What will Jim Watson bring in terms of where we go with light rail, where we go with ourinfrastructure, or sewage going into the Ottawa river, where we go with our funding for community programs, arts programs? And those are the substantive issues."

Mayor Larry O'Brien has not revealed whether he will seek re-election.

Watson would have to step down from his provincial cabinet positionto run a mayoral campaign.

Hisdecision comesamid persistent rumours thatPremier Dalton McGuinty will be making dramatic changes to his cabinet. McGuinty already has to replace former deputy premier George Smitherman, whoresigned as a member of the provincial parliament last week to run for mayor of Toronto.