Brantford-Brant MP Larry Brock is supporting Jean Charest’s bid to become the next Conservative Party of Canada leader.
“Jean Charest is a man of principle, he’s a man of experience who has had to handle difficult caucuses in the past and he knows the challenges facing this country,” Brock said. “We’re at a crossroads in terms of the Conservative movement in this country.”
Brock said Charest is a leader who can unite the country.
“I believe he will appeal to those individuals in those regions that for the last three elections have denied us the opportunity to form government,” he said. “That’s the 416 (area code) that’s the suburbs around the 416 and the Province of Quebec.”
Brock said Charest presents as being a moderate on the political spectrum, and can appeal to those looking for a reason to not support the Liberals.
“The Liberal government, in my view, with its decision to unite in a coalition with the NDP has now gone left of center and left a vacuum in the center right and Jean Charest, with his experience, is the only person who can fill that void.”
However, should Charest’s bid fall short, Brock said he will be loyal to whomever becomes the next leader.
Charest was elected to the House of Commons in 1984, and served in cabinet from 1986 to 1993. He was leader of federal PCs until entering Quebec politics in 1998. He served as premier of Quebec from 2007 to 2012.
The contenders for the Conservative leadership are: Scott Aitchison, MP, for Parry Sound-Muskoka; Roman Baber, former Ontario MPP for York Centre; Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown; Leslyn Lewis, MP for Haldimand-Norfolk; and Pierre Poilievre, the MP for Carlton.
The new leader will be chosen Sept. 10.
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