Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi expected to run in upcoming federal election

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says he will have more to say about his political future in the coming days, after Radio-Canada reported that he is expected to run for the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election.

"I have been asked if I would consider putting my name forward to run with the Liberal Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election. I will continue to stand up for Edmonton and serve my city," Sohi said in a statement, neither confirming or denying a potential run for the Liberals.

This would be a return to federal politics for the man who served as a cabinet minister during Justin Trudeau's first term.

Sohi is currently serving his first term as mayor. If elected, he would have to leave office before the end of his term, which will be in October. 

He is expected to run in one of Edmonton's nine federal ridings.

There are currently two ridings held by Liberal MPs in Alberta: Edmonton Centre, represented by former minister Randy Boissonnault, and Calgary Skyview, represented by George Chahal.

Alberta has been without a cabinet minister since Boissonnault left last November amid controversy over his ancestry.

City council members can run for federal or provincial office, and do not have to take a leave of absence to do so, city clerk Aileen Giesbrecht told CBC News in a statement.

"If elected, they must resign once they become a member of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly. The Council Code of Conduct and existing policies applicable to members of council remain in effect until a resignation occurs," Giesbrecht said.

If Sohi resigns within the current council term, city council will have to appoint a councillor to serve as chief elected official for the rest of the period, to make sure the office is not vacant at any point in time, Giesbrecht said.