St. Paul’s MPP Eric Hoskins is the latest provincial cabinet minister to step down, opening the door to a leadership bid of the Ontario Liberal party.

The founder of charity War Child Canada has resigned as minister of children and youth services and joins former cabinet colleagues Don Valley West MPP Kathleen Wynne, Sandra Pupatello and Glen Murray as candidates for the top job.

“I want to thank Premier McGuinty for his leadership throughout my time both as minister of children and youth services and as minister of citizenship and immigration,” Hoskins said in a statement. “During my time as minister of citizenship and immigration, I was privileged to lead the Partnership Project, which redefined the relationship between government and the dynamic not-for-profit sector, and to work on behalf of our province’s many diverse communities. As minister of children and youth services, I took important steps to address the roots of violence and provide young people with opportunity through our Youth Action Plan. I also made improvements to our child and youth mental health system and to the supports we provide to our most vulnerable children. In the weeks and months ahead, I took forward to the renewal that our party will undergo. I want to be part of that renewal.”

Hoskins said a news conference would be scheduled early next week.

The Liberal Party’s leadership convention will be held Jan. 25 to 27 at Maple Leaf Gardens.