CBC Montreal host in the running for NDP candidacy

The CBC has confirmed that veteran Montreal broadcaster Anne Lagacé Dowson has taken a leave of absence to consider running for federal office.

Lagacé Dowson was granted a leave of absence without pay from her hosting duties on the CBC's provincewide call-in show, Radio Noon.

The NDP confirmed it asked Lagacé Dowson to run for the party in a pending federal byelection in the Montreal riding of Westmount-Ville-Marie.

Lagacé Dowson is on a list of potential candidates for the federal byelection, said Karl Bélanger, press secretary for NDP Leader Jack Layton.

"There's no question that Ms. Dowson would be a terrific candidate for the NDP, and we would be very pleased if she were to make the decision to join our party and be our candidate," he told CBC News.

The Westmount riding was left vacant after Liberal MP Lucienne Robillard retired earlier this year.

The Liberals plan to run former astronaut Mark Garneau. Montreal labour lawyer Guy Dufort is the Conservative candidate. Claude Genest is running for the Green Party.

The Bloc Québécois has not yet chosen its candidate.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has to set a date for the byelection within three weeks.