Mark Carney camp offers role to former Quebec premier Jean Charest: sources

Prime minister-designate Mark Carney’s team has approached former Quebec premier Jean Charest to offer him a role, Radio-Canada is reporting. 

The nature of the position is unknown. But according to sources with knowledge of the discussion, Charest has no intention of becoming a minister.

CBC News is not identifying the source because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. 

Charest, who was instrumental in setting in motion the Canada-European Union free trade agreement (CETA), is currently a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations. 

In 2022, Charest ran unsuccessfully against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the party’s leadership race. The former Quebec Liberal Party premier secured only 11.65 per cent of the popular vote compared to Poilievre who won 70.7 per cent. 

Charest was also a Progressive Conservative MP in the 1990s and the federal party’s leader.

Charest, who was instrumental in setting in motion the Canada-European Union free trade agreement (CETA), is currently a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations. 

In 2022, Charest ran unsuccessfully against Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the party’s leadership race. The former Quebec Liberal Party premier secured only 11.65 per cent of the popular vote compared to Poilievre who won 70.7 per cent. 

Charest was also a Progressive Conservative MP in the 1990s and the federal party’s leader.