Jean Charest considering Conservative leadership run: sources
CBC
Jean Charest, the former Quebec premier and ex-leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party, is preparing to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party, according to party sources who spoke with Radio-Canada.
Charest is fine-tuning a plan for his leadership bid, according to Conservative sources familiar with his plans.
"We have support in all the provinces. People will be surprised by the support we receive, even in Western Canada," a supporter of Charest's candidacy said.
All the sources spoke to Radio-Canada, CBC's french-language service, on condition they not be named because they were not authorized to confirm candidates' plans or to speak about internal party matters.
Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole stepped down from the position earlier this month following a vote by the party caucus. Candice Bergen replaced him as interim leader.
Pierre Poilievre, the member of Parliament for Carleton and a former cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, is so far the only candidate to have confirmed he will run for the leadership but others have expressed interest.
The rumoured leadership bid by National Post columnist and political consultant Tasha Kheiriddin, for example, is no longer an if but a when, according to several Conservative sources, including within her campaign.
"We are organizing ourselves. We are setting up the campaign structure in each province," a senior source in Kheiriddin's campaign said.
"We are ready to go. But the final decision will depend a lot on the rules that will be chosen by the party."
Charest's camp said it is still reserving the right to change its mind about a run.
"As long as it is not announced, anything can happen," stressed the Charest supporter.
In the last Conservative leadership race two years ago, Charest recorded a campaign-launch video but ended up not running.
Charest's executive assistant at McCarthy-Tétreault, the law firm at which he is currently a partner, told Radio-Canada he is not giving interviews.
Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, Ont., and former leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party, is also considering throwing his hat in, according to sources. But looming Ontario municipal elections in November could complicate his decision.
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