With the Federal conservative party is in the midst of picking a new leader, after they ousted the previous holder of the title, Erin O’Toole earlier this year. CHIP 101.9 spoke with Pontiac’s conservative candidate in last year’s election, Michel Gauthier, about who he thinks should head the party going forward. Previously he had stated that he would like to see a leader from Quebec, and he is putting his support behind a long-time heavyweight in both provincial and federal political circles, Jean Charest.

Gauthier said that he was supportive of O’Toole, but called his performance during last year’s campaign a failure.

Gauthier said that Charest is the candidate that will be able to take on the Liberals in a general election, as he will do the best in the province of Quebec, where the federal Conservatives have historically performed poorly.

The other candidates that have announced thus far are federal MPs Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis and Scott Aitchison, former Ontario Conservative Party leader and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber and Saskatchewan businessman Joseph Bourgault. The race will conclude on September 10, 2022.

The full interview with Gauthier is available below.