The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Mark Mulroney won’t seek Conservative leadership, but Jean Charest may
Former Quebec premier meeting with friends about possible run
When David Cameron became leader of the British Conservative Party in 2005, satirical magazine Private Eye took the opportunity to have some fun at his expense, running pictures of the youthful Cameron and then prime minister Tony Blair side by side under the headline: “World’s first face transplant a success.”
Cameron rejoiced in the tag “the heir to Blair”. Like the Labour prime minister, he dragged a reluctant party toward the political centre. The youthful Conservative was criticized by his own party’s right wing for going too far in embracing Blair’s social liberalism but the move was popular with voters and within five years he was prime minister.
In many ways, it was a blueprint for Canadian Conservatives, a guide on how to rid themselves of the “Nasty Party” accusation and rebrand as a confident, vigorous alternative to the Liberals.
It’s too bad then that the candidate who might have best played the Cameron role to Justin Trudeau’s Blair has decided against running.
Mark Mulroney – second son of former prime minister, Brian; brother of Ontario cabinet minister Caroline and CTV host Ben – may not have the highest of profiles, even around his own family’s Christmas dinner table. But those who have watched his development know that he would have been a serious contender for the leadership had he decided to run. Certainly, many of those who have ambitions to wear Andrew Scheer’s crown checked with Mulroney before proceeding with their plans.
“I’ve had so much nice commentary from some really smart people. But you have to trust your gut and this is not my time,” said the 40-year-old investment banker, who is expecting his fifth child in February.
The reaction on social media to rumours of his interest were predictable. “The Trudeaus and Mulroneys want to keep the oligarchy going,” said one person on Twitter.
But Mulroney recognizes his famous name would have been a challenge that would also have been a benefit. “I was raised in this game and understand politics. Scotty Bowman’s kids sit around talking about hockey. We talked politics,” he said.
For those encouraging him to run, the name was the cherry on top – more importantly, he is smart, telegenic, personable and crucially, fluently bilingual.
There are a lot of names being thrown out as potential candidates but the acid test on participating in this contest is whether you can speak and listen to Canada’s citizens.
There are 78 ridings in Quebec and another 10 outside it, where one third of the population speak French as their native tongue. A Conservative leader without French would likely find him or herself 88 seats down before a vote was counted.
Mulroney is out but on Wednesday Radio Canada reported Jean Charest, the former Progressive Conservative leader and later Quebec premier, is consulting with friends about running. The initial reaction among Conservatives I spoke with was skepticism – he’s been out of federal politics for more than 20 years and working in the private sector for seven, they pointed out, not to mention messy legal complications around corruption trials in Quebec that centre on his time as premier.
But, unlikely as it may seem, this one could have legs, according to one well-connected source.
“It would be an earthquake in the race,” he said. “Who else has his kind of experience?”
The snark on Twitter is that the party he used to lead no longer exists, which is true. But that, in part, may be to his advantage.
The Conservative Party needs a curative when it comes to national unity, climate change and Canada’s place in the world – issues that are said to motivate Charest. Even though he was first elected in 1984 and was in Brian Mulroney’s cabinet at the age of 28, he is still only 61.
He would also, of course, have appeal in French-speaking Canada. Whether he runs or not remains to be seen. No-one is truly committed, in part because the party has not released the rules and timing of the contest, or even appointed a leadership election organizing committee.