TORONTO - Progressive Conservative John Yakabuski says he's not going to run for leader of the party.

He says the job would have required him to be away from his constituency and family for long periods of time, which he wasn't prepared to do.

Yakabuski represents the eastern Ontario riding of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke and lives in Barry's Bay.

He says he feels honoured that many of his constituents and others encouraged him to run.

The job opened up when former leader John Tory quit after losing a byelection March 5 in the rural riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

Other Conservatives like Tim Hudak, Christine Elliott and Randy Hillier are widely expected to run.