OTTAWA -- Sheila Copps is being wooed to run for the New Democrats in the next federal election if Paul Martin's Liberals dispense with her services in the Hamilton riding she's represented for 20 years. The former cabinet minister and two-time leadership contender spoke yesterday with NDP Leader Jack Layton and later refused to rule out the possibility of switching to the New Democrats.

"I've always figured when a door closes another door opens and I wouldn't rule anything out in politics," Copps said in an interview.

She ran a distant second to Prime Minister Paul Martin in last fall's Liberal leadership contest. Martin later offered the former heritage minister a patronage appointment, but when she refused he turfed her from his cabinet.

Copps has since complained that Martin acolytes in the Hamilton area seem determined to drum her out of politics altogether.

Martin's new power-broker in Hamilton, Transport Minister Tony Valeri, is challenging Copps for the Liberal nomination in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. Martin has refused to intervene in the contest.

Valeri maintains his hand was forced by riding redistribution, under which a chunk of his old Stoney Creek riding has been added to Copps's former Hamilton East riding.

However, a larger portion of Valeri's old riding has been absorbed into the new riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook, where there is no Liberal incumbent.