Almost 24 years after leaving federal politics, Jean Charest is launching his marketing campaign to develop into chief of the Conservative Get together of Canada.
The 63-year-old Quebecer introduced his bid at a Calgary brewery Thursday night time, sending a transparent message to the get together’s western Canadian base.
“I need to kind a nationwide authorities the place Alberta and Saskatchewan might be on the desk shaping choices,” stated Charest. “Not on the receiving finish of different individuals's choices.”
The previous chief of the now-defunct Progressive Conservative Get together will face the problem of interesting to a a lot totally different political motion.
The Conservative Get together is now operating its third management contest since 2017.
“We're badly divided throughout the nation,” Charest instructed CTV Information on a video name from Montreal on Thursday morning. “And throughout the Conservative Get together of Canada.”
A former Quebec premier, Charest led the Quebec Liberal Get together to 3 consecutive provincial election victories in 2003, 2007 and 2008, earlier than resigning after a defeat in 2012.
Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre was the primary to declare his candidacy for Conservative chief, and has already attacked Charest’s conservative credibility.
“There is just one factor extra insane than these costs,” Poilievre tweeted March 7, referring to fuel costs. “That Jean Charest and Justin Trudeau need to elevate them additional with carbon taxes.”
Charest helped create a cap-and-trade program as Quebec premier, however won't say what his local weather plan might be as federal Conservative chief -- solely that he needs to run a constructive marketing campaign.
“Frankly I believe persons are uninterested in this type of politics, the place we maintain attacking others,” Charest stated. “The truth is, it is an important accomplishment that my adversaries might be spending a lot time attacking me, I imply they're saying one thing about themselves, far more than they're about me.”
Together with Poilievre, rookie Conservative MP Leslyn Lewis, and Unbiased Ontario MPP Roman Barber have additionally introduced their intentions to run for federal Conservative chief.
Political analysts view Charest as a extra average candidate than his present opponents, who can attraction to the extra socially conservative wing of the get together.
It’s a notion the previous Mulroney authorities cupboard minister rejects.
“I am operating as a Conservative, interval,” Charest stated. “Not a hyphenated Conservative.”
Potential management candidates have till April 19 to declare their candidacy, and put up an entry payment of $200,000, along with a compliance deposit of $100,000.
The deadline for membership functions is June 3 and the get together will elect its subsequent chief on Sept. 10.
With a file from CTV Information' Sarah Turnbull
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