OTTAWA—Michael Chong will only run for the party’s leadership if there’s a “clear path to victory,” a source close to the Conservative MP tells the Star.

Chong, who placed fifth in the party’s 2017 leadership contest, is “still deliberating” on whether he’ll run a second time.

“Last time he ran for leader, he proposed to build a bigger party that embraced bold ideas on climate change and the economy. Ideas based on conservative principles,” said the source, who agreed to speak on condition they not be named.

“Members chose a different direction.”

The Wellington-Halton Hills MP told reporters he is considering making a second bid for the leadership, but would be taking the weekend to discuss it with his wife and three sons.

Chong ran in 2017 on a platform aimed at expanding beyond the Conservatives’ traditional base. He supported a carbon tax that would use the revenues to lower income taxes.

One of the widespread criticisms of Andrew Scheer’s failed 2019 campaign was that his environmental policies lacked credibility at a time when more and more Canadians see climate change as a real and present danger.

While the notion of a carbon tax is still deeply unpopular with many Conservatives, Chong could find more purchase for his “big tent” message in 2020, as a leadership race naturally divides the party into separate factions.

The Conservative leadership race got its first big-name entrant on Saturday, with Peter MacKay officially launching his campaign in his native Nova Scotia.

“All conservatives belong in this party and have a voice and a place at the table. Our strength comes form our shared convictions and victory will only come if we work as one,” MacKay told a crowd at the Stellarton Museum of Industry.

“And if we don’t unite, there is a risk to our party and a risk to our country. We are in danger of more years of Justin Trudeau.”

MacKay’s main competitor, Durham MP Erin O’Toole, is expected to launch his campaign on Monday. O’Toole released a short teaser video through his Twitter account Saturday, saying only “let’s go.”

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Sarnia-Lambton MP Marylin Gladu has also announced her intention to run, as has rookie MP Derek Sloan and former staffer Richard Décarie.

To run for the leadership, candidates must raise $300,000 and gather 3,000 signatures of support from people across 30 different ridings and seven provinces or territories. While the race is starting to firm up, candidates have until the end of February to make their initial deposit and submit 1,000 signatures from backers.

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