Jean Charest delivered a plea for Conservative Party unity Thursday night at his launch event to a hall of supporters in Calgary, the heartland of Alberta and Canadian conservatism.
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According to the principal concerned, this is not a coincidence, but a conscious “choice”.
“I’m here in Calgary, and I’m here in Alberta because I want to make a point. The point I want to make is about the Conservative Party of Canada and about the country itself. That’s why I decided to be here,” said Mr. Charest in the preamble to his speech, after being introduced by Paul Haggis, a well-known oil entrepreneur in the region.
Jean Charest praised the legacy of Stephen Harper, “who left a proud legacy, a legacy that we will honor.”
He made known the “respect” he has for the last leaders who failed to defeat Justin Trudeau, Andrew Scheer and Erin O’Toole.
System understanding
The former Quebec premier recalled in his speech, but also throughout the day, the extent of his experience in politics, an experience that gives him, according to him, an unparalleled understanding of the “federal system”.
“Me, if I am Prime Minister of Canada, I think it would give a breath of fresh air to Ottawa because they will have a Prime Minister who understands how the federal system works,” he said in an interview with Mario Dumont earlier in the day.
The leadership candidate intends to support pipeline projects as long as there is “environmental and social acceptability”.
Even if he mainly wishes to “decarbonize gas and oil”, he maintains that we should not turn our backs on oil projects.
“Securing” the energy supply of Canada and its European allies, damaged by the war in Ukraine, is one more argument for taking advantage of Canada’s underground resources.
Not worried about the polls
Mr. Charest begins the race with a significant delay in voting intentions compared to his main rival, Pierre Poilievre.
The latter receives the support of 41% of Conservative voters against 10% for the former Quebec premier, according to a Léger poll conducted on behalf of the Newspaper and National Post published yesterday.
“It’s not against [Pierre Poilievre] that I campaign, I campaign because I think I would be a good leader given my record, my track record, my experience, then what I bring as a vision for Canada. »