Paul Dewar, the former NDP MP for Ottawa Centre, isn't closing the door on a run for mayor of the City of Ottawa in 2018.

"Well it's been noted by some," laughed Dewar.

His comments came while being interviewed by Robyn Bresnahan, host of CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning, about a new book written about his mother, Marion Dewar, a former mayor of Ottawa.

Dewar joined Deborah Gorham, the author of Marion Dewar: A Life of Action, for a discussion about his mother's evolution from housewife and mother of five children to a champion of several social justice issues during her time in politics.

Marion Dewar served as mayor of Ottawa from 1978 until 1985.

Then in 1987 she was elected to the House of Commons in a by-election in the riding of Hamilton-Mountain but only served until the general election in 1988 when she lost the seat to the Liberals.

She died in 2008 at the age of 80 from a brain hemorrhage caused by a serious fall.

During her time as mayor, Dewar led Project 4,000 that saw Ottawa residents sponsor 4,000 Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian refugees.

Watson also hasn't said whether he'll run in 2018

Bresnahan asked Dewar if he'd do the reverse of his mother by running for mayor after he served as an MP.

"I never had a plan when I was 20 or 30 to run for office and then I went down a path, opened a door and saw what was behind it and mom was very much like that as well," said Dewar.

"So I have no idea but I do know that I love politics and I loved local politics even when I was in federal politics ... so I don't know what's next but who knows."

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson has not said whether he will run again for mayor in 2018.