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Ontario New Democrat Cheri DiNovo announced Tuesday she is pulling out of the federal NDP leadership race after suffering “two small strokes” in recent weeks.

“My staff and family have been amazing through this experience and it is in consultation with them – to whom I owe so much – that I have to announce I’m withdrawing from the leadership race,” DiNovo said in a statement posted on Facebook.

“For at least the next month or so my focus will be on my health, so that I’ll be able to return to Queen’s Park in the fall.”

DiNovo, who has represented Toronto’s Parkdale-High Park riding since 2006, threw her hat into the leadership race in June.

“I am confident a candidate will step forward who will be up to the task. That candidate, the one who puts principles and values at the forefront, will have me and my supporters’ full backing.”

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Voting to select the new NDP leader will take place in September or October of 2017 after Thomas Mulcair announced his resignation in May when 52 per cent of delegates voted for a leadership review in Edmonton.