Green Leader May won't run again in N.S.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May said Wednesday she won't run again for election in Nova Scotia.

"The announcement hasn't officially been made but there's no point in hedging on this," May told the New Glasgow News. "I have to leave Nova Scotia for the next election campaign."

In the 2008 federal election, the Cape Breton resident took on Conservative Defence Minister Peter MacKay in the riding of Central Nova.

MacKay prevailed handily, polling 18,239 votes, or 46.6 per cent of the popular vote. May finished second with 12,620 votes, or 32.24 per cent of the votes cast.

May made the comments from Mayne Island, B.C., where she is on a western tour.

While she won't confirm where she might run, she did say it will be "definitely west of Nova Scotia."

The B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, which is currently held by Conservative cabinet minister Gary Lunn, has been mentioned as a possible spot for May to run in the next federal election.

Lunn took 43.43 per cent of popular vote in his riding in 2008, topping his nearest competitor by more than 2,600 votes.