Conservative MP and former leadership candidate Michael Chong says he hasn’t yet ruled out running for leader again, as another tipped candidate prepares to meet potential supporters on Wednesday evening.
Posted yesterday at 12:49 p.m.
Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest is due to meet MPs and senators in Ottawa at a reception hosted by two caucus members who want him to enter the race to become the next Conservative leader.
So far, only Pierre Poilievre, a prominent Ottawa-area curator, has formally declared his intention to participate in the race, which has not officially started.
A committee of Tories has yet to set the rules and make the most important decision on how long the leadership contest will last.
Conservative Quebec Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu said he believes the race should continue until September to give candidates from outside the caucus a chance to take part, including Mr. Charest, as well as political commentator Tasha Kheiriddin, who is considering becoming a candidate.
Heading into the Conservative caucus meeting on Wednesday, Chong said he had not ruled out running again in the party leadership race, but said he was focused in immediately to his role as spokesperson for foreign affairs.
He said his second goal was to “reflect, in the coming weeks, what I can do to help my party and my country.”