Manitoba MP Bill Blaikie became the first New Democrat to declare his candidacy for the party's leadership Monday, joking that his announcement, which he let out of the bag Friday, was the "best kept secret in Winnipeg."

"I announce what must surely be the best kept secret in Winnipeg and in the country for that matter -- that I will be a candidate of the leadership of the federal New Democratic Party," Blaikie told a crowd gathered at Winnipeg's Stella Mission.

Blaikie thanked outgoing leader Alexa McDonough for the NDP's breakthrough in Atlantic Canada, and for her leadership since 1995.

He also said he was pleased to have the support of more than 30 former New Democrat MPs who have worked with him in previous parliaments.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer introduced Blaikie, praising his passion for Canada and for working people.

"He is an orator second to none in the great tradition of our party," said Doer. "He is an MP that is in touch with the working people of this community and the working people of Canada."

Blaikie, who is said to have strong support among the NDP caucus and the trade union movement, is seen by many as the front-runner in the race to succeed McDonough.

His competition is expected to include Saskatchewan MP Lorne Nystrom, Toronto city counsellor Jack Layton and B.C. MP Svend Robinson.

Blaikie, who turns 51 Wednesday, was born and raised in his riding of Transcona, Man., and is an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1979 and has been re-elected six times.

In his time in Parliament, Blaikie has served as the NDP critic on social policy, health care, the environment and foreign affairs. He is currently the NDP's house leader and justice critic.

McDonough, 58, stepped down earlier this month after seven years at the helm of the NDP, saying it was time to pass the torch to someone who could breath new life into the left wing party.

Her resignation wasn't a surprise after a lacklustre showing in the last federal election, which reduced the party's seat count in the House of Commons to 13 -- just one more than the 12 needed to maintain official party status.

However, McDonough's departure has raised concerns about the absence of women on the federal political scene. Of Canada's 301 MPs, 63 are women -- or about 20 per cent.

"I think the void is real," McDonough told The Canadian Press. "I think in sort of symbolic terms it's really devastating that there's not only no woman leading a national political party today, but that there still is such a severe, severe under-representation of women."