The Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo is endorsing Jean Charest to be next leader of the Federal Conservative Party.

Charest – a former leader of the Federal Progressive Conservative Party from 1993 to 1998, and a former Liberal Premier of Quebec from 2003 to 2012 – made the announcement in a social media post Tuesday.

“In an increasingly polarized world, we need leadership that can bring all Canadians together with a strong vision for our country’s long-term prosperity,” Caputo, a first-term MP said, in a statement released by Charest.

“I believe that Jean Charest is the right choice to lead our party and country into a better future.”

Charest is considered one of the front-runners for leadership of the Conservative Party, along with longtime Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre, who’s picked up  nominations from number of B.C. Conservative MPs including Dan Albas in Central Okanagan – Similkameen – Nicola, and Mel Arnold in North Okanagan – Shuswap.

Also running for the party’s top job – after Erin O’Toole was removed as leader in February this year – is Scott Aitchison, Roman Baber, Patrick Brown, and Leslyn Lewis.

Welcome to our team @FrankCaputoKTC, CPC MP for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo.

He had remained neutral to hear each #CPCLDR‘s vision for our country.

Conservatives are uniting behind our vision.

Join to vote: https://t.co/541cDjoo8E#cdnpoli #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/sfkRLRodqA

— Jean Charest (@JeanCharest_) May 31, 2022