Jean Charest continues to be desired by the Conservatives who would like to see him run for the leadership of their party. The former Premier of Quebec has still not confirmed whether he will be a candidate, but he came to meet some forty caucus members in Ottawa on Wednesday evening to listen to them, sometimes reassure them and introduce himself to these curators who, in some cases, did not know him.
Accompanied by his wife, Michèle Dionne, Jean Charest appeared before the journalists, obviously not unhappy to find the cameras. “I come to meet a group of parliamentarians, members of the caucus,” he explained about his visit to the federal capital. “And we will make the decision when we know the rules [de la course]. We’re not there yet. But the day is approaching,” he said.
At the end of the evening, the organizing committee of the race announced by email that the next leader will be chosen on September 10.
Aspiring chefs will have until April 19 to apply. Campaigns will have until June 3 to recruit new party members. The price of entry into the race has been set at $200,000, as in the last game in 2020, and must be accompanied by a compliance deposit of $100,000 refundable after the election. Ballots will be mailed in late July or early August.
Many Quebec Conservatives have been courting Mr. Charest for weeks now. In this spirit of persuasion, the deputy and former lieutenant of the party in Quebec Alain Rayes had invited his fellow senators and deputies to come and meet Wednesday evening the ex-politician, who is thinking of embarking on the race to become leader of the Conservative Party.
Mr. Charest had a message for them when he arrived in the evening. “One subject I think we will all agree on is the importance and responsibility of the Conservative Party of Canada to the country. Because we need parties that are national in scope. It is absolutely essential, ”he argued in an impromptu press. “It means a political party that is true to its history, that represents every region of Canada, and that presents a very inclusive vision for the future of Canada. »
Behind closed doors, Mr. Charest talked to them about the referendum, the war in Ukraine and the natural resources to be sold in Europe to replace the continent’s dependence on Russia.
Words that pleased Saskatchewan MP Randy Hoback. “It gave me enough to pique my curiosity enough to ask more questions,” he commented, visibly intrigued even though he has not yet decided which candidate he will support. His colleague Kevin Waugh, also from Saskatchewan, was also pleased that the issue of oil and natural gas had been addressed.
Ontario’s Larry Brock said he was “impressed”. “I think he’s going to unite the party like we’ve never seen,” he shared, without committing himself to the Charest camp either.
The natural resources file also worried Albertan Greg McLean when he arrived at the reception. The member could not predict whether Mr. Charest would be well received in the West – where some denounce that he created a carbon exchange when he headed the Quebec government. “We will have to test the waters and see if there is appetite [dans l’Ouest] for someone who was Premier of Quebec,” acknowledged Mr. McLean.
Just as Mr. Charest arrived at the meeting, Alberta MP Shannon Stubbs, who supported Pierre Poilievre, recalled on Twitter that Mr. Charest, like Justin Trudeau, created a carbon pricing plan, defended the gun registry shoulder and raised taxes when he was Prime Minister. Criticisms also heard from other western conservatives.
The third of the caucus at the rendezvous
Many, when they arrived at the reception, said they would first come to listen to the politician who left the federal scene 24 years ago and whom they had not yet had the opportunity to meet. When they left, some said they were impressed that Jean Charest still had “the sacred fire” or observed the “charisma” of the politician.
Quebeckers — almost all of whom were present — said they were convinced that Jean Charest would be able to unify the Conservative Party. “I know the man well. I know his determination. I know that this is the person we need to unite the forces of our party,” said federal MP and former minister of the Charest government, Dominique Vien.
About forty deputies and senators had moved to the Château Laurier hotel, a stone’s throw from Parliament, to listen to the man who seems more and more ready to relaunch himself in the federal political arena. Two years ago, when Mr. Charest considered running for office before giving it up, he had not organized such a meeting with parliamentarians.
Mr. Charest had finally abandoned the idea of running for the leadership because he felt that the race, too fast, would have prevented him from carrying out “a viable campaign”, he recalled.
Under the rules announced Wednesday evening, the race will this time last six months and the campaigns of the candidates will have three months to recruit new members and thus boost their support in the party.
“As a party with a long tradition of popular engagement, these dates will allow as many Canadians as possible to join the Conservative Party and participate in the election of our next leader,” said the President. of the organizing committee, Ian Brodie. “It will also allow Conservative MPs to return to the House of Commons in September with a new leader in place to take on Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. »
Pierre Poilievre’s team had campaigned internally for the race to end earlier, by July 1.
The party caucus brings together 119 deputies and 16 senators. Of these, 6 on the Commons side and 5 on the Upper House side are part of the party’s leadership teams in Parliament and therefore have a duty of reserve in the race. Added to this are the 35 Conservatives who have already given their support to Pierre Poilievre, the only candidate having so far announced himself in the race.
There were therefore 89 deputies or senators to court for the Charest camp. Of this number, just over 40 accepted the invitation to meet him, and 39 showed up.
Among the Quebec Conservatives, only the elected Pierre Paul-Hus did not move. Deputy Luc Berthold and Senator Judith Seidman were also absent, but they are part of the leadership teams. Senators Leo Housakos and Claude Carignan support Pierre Poilievre.
Jean Charest will meet individually with 15 other MPs in Ottawa on Thursday.