Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest says he has the qualities that win elections

Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest says he is the only person in the race with the track record and disposition to become prime minister after the next federal election.

“I have a record,” Charest said Friday on CBC’s Power & Politics. “And I don’t think any of my adversaries have a record.”

The former Quebec premier touted what he described as his progressive and responsible style of politics as the key to defeating the Liberal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

WATCH | Jean Charest on his candicacy and plans in the Conservative leadership race

Jean Charest tells Power & Politics host Vassy Kapelos that the ‘child care initiative is important. It has to be tailored to the needs of every province in the way that they want to deliver those services.’ He and Kapelos also discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine, defence spending and balancing the budget. 11:13

“This Conservative Party has to get its act together. Canadians expect the party to be united and to present a national vision, and it is our responsibility to do so. And I will make that happen,” he said.

Charest flatly denied a recent Toronto Star report that claimed he and fellow candidate Patrick Brown have reached a backroom deal to ensure that one of them becomes the next Conservative leader.

“I’m going to establish a relationship with all the candidates, if possible, during the campaign, because we’re all of the same party,” he said.

Party infighting ‘off-putting,’ says Peter MacKay

While Charest stressed the need for party unity during his interview, he has positioned himself in opposition to perceived frontrunner Pierre Poilievre in the early days of the race.

Poilievre, meanwhile, has compared Charest to Trudeau because of their shared support for a federal carbon tax. Poilievre also called Brown a liar earlier this week after the Brampton mayor accused Poilievre of supporting a niqab ban.

In an interview with CBC Radio’s The House, former Conservative leadership candidate and longtime cabinet minister Peter MacKay said the fighting within his party has damaged its election chances.

“I think increasingly this is off-putting for people,” said MacKay, who is not running in the current race. “People really want to hear more thoughtful, forward-looking statements from candidates.”

Charest says he’d keep Liberal child care deals

Charest said that as prime minister, he would focus on responsible spending that protects important programs and services on which Canadians depend, including health and child care.

“My record has been one of doing that job while also maintaining the basic services to which people have a right,” Charest said.

WATCH | Charest discusses his work with Huawei

Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest joins Power & Politics to discuss his work for telecom giant Huawei while two Canadians were detained in a Chinese prison, and whether he would run as a Conservative candidate if he doesn’t win the leadership. 6:47

He said the federal child care deals agreed to by most provinces are “important” and praised Quebec’s public child care system.

Charest said he was initially skeptical of the province’s public child care system, which was established by an earlier Parti Québécois government. He said his acceptance of a political rival’s idea shows he’s able to rise above political gamesmanship.

“You have to be able to look at the larger picture as opposed to just going out there and sloganeering and practicing American-style politics,” he said.

Former Conservative cabinet minister and leadership contestant Peter MacKay sits down with guest host Hannah Thibedeau to discuss his decision to sit out this round, his perspective on the race and what it portends for the future of the Conservatives. 8:59