Charest’s experience key to winning Kamloops-area MP Caputo’s endorsement

OTTAWA — Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo MP Frank Caputo says Jean Charest’s leadership experience and commitment to national unity were among the reasons Charest received his endorsement.

Caputo spoke to CFJC Today Wednesday (June 1), one day after he officially endorsed Charest for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

Charest led the Progressive Conservative Party from 1993 to 1998 and served as premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012. That, along with personal conversations with Charest, influenced Caputo’s decision.

“One of the factors that I considered was Mr. Charest’s experience as somebody who helped keep this country together — literally — as premier of Quebec, a province that has 78 seats right now,” said Caputo.

“I did speak with him about the fact that a lot of my prosecutorial work involved internet and sexual offences against children and I wanted to continue that work and have his support. He did say he would support me in that and in work on domestic violence,” he continued. “More specific to the region, I did ask him to visit the former Kamloops Residential School within 30 to 60 days if he was elected leader and he did agree to that.”

Charest is considered to the left of fellow front-runner Pierre Poilievre on the political spectrum, but Caputo said that shouldn’t mean as much as it is made out to.

“Those labels can actually serve to divide,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re Conservatives, and what do Conservatives believe in? Conservatives believe in prudent fiscal management, in watching just how much the government is in your life — is their too much regulation? Where are tax dollars going, are they going to right things and how much tax should we be paying? Those are the types of things that unite Conservatives.”

The new leader, who will succeed Erin O’Toole, will be selected on September 10 by party members.

Caputo says he is just one voter, and the results will depend on which leadership candidate resonates best with the membership.

“This wasn’t a decision that was arrived at lightly. In my view, when you endorse somebody, you’re simply saying, ‘Look, this is who I’m going to put on my ballot and put a 1 beside their name.’ Nothing more, because a person in Savona or a person in Barriere — their vote matters just as much as mine.”