Two years ago, Jean Charest suggested that the Conservative Party had changed from what he once knew.
Today he seeks to lead it. In an interview with Mercedes Stevenson of The West Block, Charest remained adamant that he could win the party’s leadership race, despite claims by his rivals that hundreds of thousands of members had joined.
Read more: Liberal and NDP voters prefer Charest and Brown as conservative leader: poll
“Well, the answer is yes, I will win that too,” said Charest, after being asked about the poll that puts him behind the alleged favorite Pierre Poalievre.
“I think the key question is: Are you tired of losing?” We lost three consecutive election campaigns, and it’s not so much that Mr Trudeau won the last campaign, the Conservatives actually lost the last campaign. I will make this party win and I will win a national government. “
The story continues under the ad
The former progressive conservative has a job to do, first to overtake Poilievre, a Carlton MP who has spent his entire political career as the sharp end of the party’s spear, and then figure out how to put together a strong enough electoral coalition to defeat the Liberals. Justin Trudeau.
Global News reports that Charest believes there is a way to victory, despite the number of eligible voters his rivals say they have concluded. The Poilievre camp estimates that more than 311,000 members have registered – more than the total number eligible to vote in the 2020 leadership race. Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown says he has signed another 150,000.
Popular stories
-
Fleur is Canadian, but “not perfect”, admits the CEO. What’s next for the airline?
-
Canada has seen an increase in COVID-19 sub-variants. Could this lead to a summer jump?
According to the party, leadership campaigns should expect approximately 600,000 eligible members, which means that the claimed sales of Poilievre and Brown’s membership represent 75 percent of the voters in the leadership race.
“I mean, it’s appropriate,” Charest said of membership sales.
Read more: Patrick Brown does not rule out the return of urban policy if “Pierre would win”
“But if you have 10,000 members in one ride, it costs 100 points (in the Conservative leadership system) and if you have 100 members in one ride, it costs 100 points.
If Charest succeeds in a disappointing victory over Poalievr, the more difficult task may be to win the party assembly, which has largely supported Poalievr.
The story continues under the ad
Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole has been lifted by a slow-moving riot after she dropped her promise to disapprove of the carbon tax and lost the 2021 election. during these elections, but the fault lines within the Conservative Assembly are deeper.
O’Toole followed Andrew Shear, who retired after losing the 2019 general election, despite the group’s support.
Charest has made it a centerpiece in his presentation to conservative voters that he could break the cycle of party losses – attractive to centrist voters in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. But that was part of O’Toole’s pitch and it wasn’t enough to save him.
Read more: Conservatives are confident that the vote for leadership will not be delayed despite the jump in membership
“The history of the last two leadership competitions is very clear. The favorite lost, “Charest said.
“And the reason for this is that they are at the top of the first ballot, (and) they are not anyone’s second choice, which is largely the story of Mr Poilievre, and who is the strongest, ultimately winning the race. That’s how Erin O’Toole became a leader and that’s how Andrew Sheare became a leader. “
“And so I will become the leader of this party,” Charest added.
Add Comment