TORONTO, Ont. – Another Ontario Liberal cabinet minister has opted out of the provincial leadership race.

Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid said he will not run, but he will seek re-election in his Scarborough Centre riding in the next election, explaining the timing isn’t right and he wants to spend more time with his children.

“They’re in their formative years. They have some important decisions to make in terms of what they’re going to do after high school, and I just think it’s important for me to be around, when they need me, if they need me,” he said, Wednesday.

Duguid, 50, has been an MPP since 2003.

While he’s not endorsing a candidate just yet, Duguid said he wanted to get out of the way to allow other potential candidates to come forward, and there is room for a female candidate.

“We’ve had a very strong women’s caucus here in the Ontario Liberal Party. They have some great influence over the years, and some of the policies we’ve brought forward that have been hugely successful,” Duguid said.

Former Ontario Liberal cabinet minister Sandra Pupetello from Windsor, Ont., has been rumoured to be interested in running for the top job, as are health minister Deb Matthews and municipal affairs minister Kathleen Wynne.

Duguid said, however, it isn’t about setting up an all-female field, despite talk that the Liberals are leaning toward a female boss with NDP leader Andrea Horwath gaining in popularity.

“I think what Ontarians are going to be looking for in the next Liberal leader and in the next Premier is somebody who knows where they want to take this province, and whether that leader is male or female, I think that’s the most important quality that they’re going to have to have,” he said.

So far, no one has declared candidacy and three cabinet ministers – including Dwight Duncan and Chris Bentley – have stated they do not want the job.

Duncan assured Ontarians this is not a case of no one wanting to captain a sinking ship.

“We’re just about to engage with Liberals across this province in a renewal process. We’re going to choose a new leader and we’re going to provide a vision for the people of Ontario as to how we want to take this province forward.”