TORONTO - Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan may jump to provincial politics by running for the leadership of Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party.
Sources tell the Globe and Mail that Van Loan has been contacting party members, trying to determine his level of support.
The party will chose a new leader by June 30th to replace John Tory, who lost a by-election last Thursday to Liberal Rick Johnson
Van Loan declined to comment Wednesday, saying only that Tory's departure from public life `is a great loss for all the people of Ontario.'
Sources have also said Industry Minister Tony Clement is testing the waters for a return to provincial politics.
But Clement -- who lost a leadership bid in 2002 -- denies he will make the jump, saying he has a "pretty important job" in Ottawa.
