Garneau to run for Liberals in Montreal riding

Former astronaut Marc Garneau has decided to run for the federal Liberals in the next election,after announcing three weeks ago he was leaving political life.

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is to make the announcement Friday during a news conference in Montreal.

Garneau, the first Canadianin space, will run in the Montreal riding of Westmount—Ville-Marie.

Westmount is among the safest Liberal ridings in the country. The riding's incumbent,former cabinetminister Lucienne Robillard, has decided not to seek re-election.

Garneau first announced he would run for the Liberals in 2005, saying "space and Parliament can be kind of similar at times." He resigned as head of the Canadian Space Agency to mountan unsuccessful run during the 2006 federal election.

On Sept. 26, Dion announced Garneau would be leaving political life.