Patrick Brown endorses Jean Charest to lead Conservative Party

Globeandmail.com
July 13, 2022
Ian Bailey

Patrick Brown says he is unlikely to overturn a disqualification from running for Conservative leader in time to compete in the race, so he will vote for former Quebec premier Jean Charest.

The declaration is part of a letter to supporters that was sent out on Tuesday night, hours after Mr. Brown’s national campaign co-chair endorsed Mr. Charest as the best and most experienced choice for Conservative members.

The letter from the campaign, released by spokesperson Chisholm Pothier, says there is a “strong likelihood” Mr. Brown’s attempt to appeal the party’s disqualification won’t succeed in time because members are now receiving their ballots and the winner is to be announced on Sept. 10.

“If that is the case, Patrick has been clear he would support any new leader of the CPC except Pierre Poilievre,” the letter says. “If it comes to that, he will be voting for Jean Charest. He encouraged his supporters to stay involved, do their research and make their own choice for next leader of the party.”

The letter says Mr. Charest “has the best chance to stop Pierre Poilievre’s extremism,” but does not elaborate on Mr. Brown’s specific concerns about the Ottawa MP.

Lawyers for Mr. Brown, currently mayor of Brampton, Ont., are attempting to appeal his disqualification as a leadership candidate over campaign financial irregularities.

Earlier Tuesday, former MP John Reynolds, who has been the national co-chair for Mr. Brown’s campaign, said Mr. Charest, who was the Liberal premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012, is the best choice to unite the Conservative Party and form a national government.

Without being specific, Mr. Reynolds, a founding Conservative member, said he has been “deeply troubled” by divisions in the party and negative publicity.

“We need to offer Canadians a positive, unified and inclusive Conservative Party with a new, time-tested leader,” Mr. Reynolds’ statement said.

“After watching this campaign unfold, it is clear to me [Jean Charest] is now the only leadership candidate that is offering the Conservative Party of Canada a forward-looking vision with an electable path to government.”

He added that Mr. Charest, who was also a federal Progressive Conservative cabinet minister and party leader, is experienced and credible at a time that Canadians are looking for a serious alternative to the “far-left, identity politics” of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In an apparent reference to Mr. Poilievre, who has promised to make Canada “the freest nation on earth,” Mr. Reynolds wrote, “The Conservative Party of Canada needs a leader who will offer Canadians bold ideas and solutions, not just empty calls for freedom.”

Mr. Reynolds was an MP for the B.C. riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country from 1997 to 2006, representing the Reform Party, the Canadian Alliance and the Conservatives. At one point, he was the official opposition leader representing the Canadian Alliance.

Mr. Reynolds was not available on Tuesday for comment on his statement.

Mr. Pothier said on Tuesday the campaign has been grateful for Mr. Reynolds’ experience, including during a Monday evening conference call involving Mr. Brown and hundreds of supporters.

“He was very upfront that Patrick was his first choice, but that given the circumstances, he was announcing his support for Jean Charest today,” Mr. Pothier said.

‘The Brown campaign’s appeals process continues. But Patrick himself has been very clear: If he is not a candidate at the end of the process, he will be voting for Jean Charest.”

Mr. Charest’s communications director, Michelle Coates Mather, said in a statement earlier on Tuesday that his team was grateful for Mr. Reynolds’ endorsement.

Poilievre spokesperson Anthony Koch said before the letter was released that the campaign would not comment on Mr. Reynolds’ endorsement of Mr. Charest.

Mr. Brown’s campaign says it has sold 150,000 memberships, while Mr. Poilievre’s campaign says it has sold about 311,000. The Conservative Party has not confirmed either number.

Ontario MPs Scott Aitchison, Leslyn Lewis and Mr. Poilievre; Roman Baber, a former Progressive Conservative member of the Ontario legislature; and Mr. Charest remain in the leadership race.