Politics | The Jean Charest of the last chance

Anyone who knows Jean Charest knows that his deep ambition has always been to be Prime Minister of Canada and that his favorite color is blue.

At 63, it is an ambition that still itchs him, especially since he knows very well that this is his last chance.

In 2020, he had been very close to being a candidate for the leadership of the Conservative Party, but he had to admit that he had to be realistic and that the party had changed a lot since 1998, when he had left to go to Quebec.

But in 2022, the party has changed even more. The radical right is even more powerful there. Here is a party that, at its last convention last year, voted 54% against a resolution acknowledging the existence of climate change. A party that just fired Erin O’Toole because they wanted to drive him more to the center.

So why is Jean Charest still tempted by the leadership of the Conservative Party? This is because, for many more centrist “blues”, he is the last chance to stay in a party that is moving towards an even harder right.

For these “Progressive Conservatives” – for lack of a better description – the candidacy of MP Pierre Poilievre poses a problem and even raises questions about their future in the party. As much in substance as in form, Mr. Poilievre is not an acceptable leader for several members of the Conservative caucus – and not only Quebeckers.

Hence the recourse to Jean Charest. A real rookie and a real political beast. Formidable in the electoral campaign as in debate. A grassroots politician who knows how to reach voters.

In addition, on the merits, Charest would give credibility to the Conservative Party in issues where it no longer has any: the environment, for example. Many Conservatives recognize that they can no longer stand before the electorate without having a specific environmental plan and even a form of carbon tax. A group led by former minister Lisa Raitt is working in this direction.

It would also allow the party to move away definitively from certain social debates: the control of firearms, abortion or gay marriage, which plague it in the big cities. All of this contributes to a favorable decision by the former premier of Quebec.

But the fact remains that, in the current state of the party, Pierre Poilievre has taken more than a step ahead. He already has the support of a quarter of Conservative MPs and effective and influential organizers, such as Senator Leo Housakos.

To change this dynamic, supporters of Jean Charest must absolutely bring new blood into the Conservative Party. Essentially, this means having people sign membership cards that a Charest candidate could join.

It is also possible that the rules of the race will be changed to allow non-members to vote, which the Liberals did for the election of Justin Trudeau and the PQ for that of Paul St-Pierre-Plamondon.

In both cases, it requires a strong organization across the country that can get up and running in a very short time. The date of the convention is not known, but if it were to be in June, for example, that would not leave much time for Mr. Charest’s supporters.

And if Jean Charest’s friends can sell cards, it is obvious that Mr. Poilievre’s supporters will do the same. And a draw would be to the advantage of the MP for Carleton.

And there are the pots…

For almost nine years – which is too long, everyone will agree – Jean Charest has been under investigation by the Permanent Anti-Corruption Unit. Ironically, this is the group of investigators he himself insisted on creating. And it is true that, for two years, the reputation of UPAC has not improved.

But to think for a moment that Mr. Poilievre is not going to try to use that against his opponent would be to misunderstand him. Moderation in attack is really not in his nature.

Especially since in Quebec, time has not completely repaired the reputation of Mr. Charest.

Just one example: last Tuesday, from his seat in the National Assembly, Simon Jolin-Barrette – who forgets that he is Minister of Justice as soon as a debate becomes partisan – declared: “Everyone in Quebec knows that there were daycare spaces, then the Liberal Party sold that to the private sector in exchange for donations. In short, a system of corruption.

If a minister can say that without anyone taking it back, there is still a problem, at least in public perception. If Mr. Charest is a candidate, it is clear that this will haunt him.

The road will not be easy for Jean Charest. But this is his last chance. And for the “progressive conservatives” too, his candidacy is a kind of last chance.