Prime minister-designate Mark Carney’s team has reportedly reached out to former Quebec premier Jean Charest to discuss a potential role, as per information from Radio-Canada. The specific duties of this position remain undisclosed, but sources familiar with the matter indicate that Charest is not inclined to take on a ministerial role.
The identity of the source providing this information is being kept confidential by CBC News due to lack of authorization to comment publicly on the subject. Charest, known for his involvement in initiating the Canada-European Union free trade agreement (CETA), presently serves on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations.
In the previous year, Charest competed unsuccessfully against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the party’s leadership contest, garnering only 11.65% of the popular vote compared to Poilievre’s 70.7% victory. Charest has a history of political engagement, having served as a Progressive Conservative MP in the 1990s and as the former leader of the federal party.
During an interview on CBC’s “Rosemary Barton Live,” Charest emphasized the importance of Canada’s ability to self-defend, stating that while it’s crucial for Canadian allies to support the nation, ultimately, Canadians must stand up for themselves. He underscored the need for Canada to adapt to a changing global landscape, beyond the era of Trump, focusing on shaping the country’s future economy and society according to Canadian values.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mark-carney-jean-charest-1.7479798)
