Federal Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy says he plans to resign his Parkdale-High Park seat in Ontario's legislature in less than two weeks.

Kennedy resigned his post as Ontario's education minister on Apr. 5 to join the race for leader of the federal Liberal party. But he has held on to his job as MPP, drawing criticism from opposition parties in the Ontario legislature.

Opposition Leader John Tory said it lowers confidence in all politicians for Kennedy to be campaigning across Canada instead of representing his provincial constituents.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton said Kennedy should not be drawing a $1,600-a-week salary from Ontario taxpayers while he's running to become the next federal Liberal leader.

During a Thursday radio talk show interview in Halifax, NS. Kennedy said he is finishing up legislative business for his riding before formally leaving the seat by the Victoria Day long weekend.

"I am going to be stepping down," he said from Dieppe, near Moncton, N.B.

"We just made a hospital announcement last week. I have another one that's in the works. Finishing up my business is all I'm doing.

"I think probably by the long weekend I will finish being an MPP in the province of Ontario."

Kennedy said he always planned to resign his seat and become a full-time leadership candidate.

The national Liberal Party will choose a new leader at a convention in Montreal in December.

With files from The Canadian Press