Former Quebec Premier Jean Charest met with his activists in Laval on Thursday as part of his “Build to Win” campaign for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Updated yesterday at 9:20 p.m.
“My name is Jean Charest, and on September 10 I will be the leader of the Conservative Party” of Canada, said the candidate in front of his activists at the Château Royal. Hundreds of supporters chanted “Charest! Charest! Charest! welcoming him to the crowded room. The politician took part “with emotion” in this rally, to launch “the Quebec part of this race for leadership”. He will participate in an event Friday in Quebec and Saturday in Sherbrooke.
After serving as Premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012 under the Liberal banner, Mr. Charest is making a return to federal politics. He evolved there from 1984 to 1998. In the race for the succession of Erin O’Toole, expelled from his post after a vote of confidence, at least seven candidates are running, in addition to Jean Charest. Among them are the mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, as well as the MP for the Ottawa region, Pierre Poilievre.
During the evening, political commentator Tasha Kheiriddin called Jean Charest “a visionary and [de] unifier”. The party is at a “crossroads”, she said. “We can choose withdrawal, closed-mindedness and the road of division, or we can choose the future, she argued. A future that includes youth, women, the LGBTQ community and new Canadians. » Mme Kheiriddin has given up running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada to line up behind Mr. Charest.
PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Jean Charest shook hands during the event.
A “deeply divided” Canada
During his speech, Jean Charest affirmed to return to politics “because Canada is deeply divided”. The politician gave the example of Alberta, where he launched his leadership campaign two weeks ago. Albertans are “suffering and feeling left out,” sidelined by a government that announces policies that don’t seem to take their interests into account, he said.
Addressing Albertans, Mr. Charest said he wanted to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, so that they return “to the Canadian fold with honor and enthusiasm”.
Jean Charest said he wanted to give back to Canada “its leadership” on the international scene. “Who would have thought just a few years ago that our country would have so little influence [à l’étranger], so little radiation? “, he lamented.
With the collaboration of Joël-Denis Bellavance, The Press, and The Canadian Press