Victoria lawyer Murray Rankin officially announces his bid to enter federal politics today.

The professor and environmental law expert hopes to run under the NDP banner in an attempt to replace Denise Savoie.

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The MP announced her retirement last month, citing health reasons.

Other candidates are expected to put their names forward for the NDP nomination contest, but no date has been set yet.

Murray is the co-chairman of the Environmental Law Centre, a student-run legal clinic at the University of Victoria.

He opposes Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal, which he says is one of the reasons for starting his campaign.

"This thing is a real possibility, sadly," he said. "I have experience that I think can help out on the national level."

Rankin is the former president of the West Coast Environmental Law Association and the B.C. Public Interest Advocacy Centre.

A byelection for Savoie's seat must be called within six months.