OTTAWA

Michael Chong, a Conservative MP from southern Ontario, will enter the race next month to lead the party, Sun Media has learned.

The bilingual Chong, 44, is putting together the paperwork, financing and staffing he'll need to enter the race which, right now, officially includes Ontario MP Kellie Leitch and Quebec MP Maxime Bernier.

"There are a group of us that think Michael Chong has the best chance of winning a general election," said Bram Sepers, who served as chief of staff to former minister of state for finance Ted Menzies, and who is working to organize the Chong bid.

Chong, the MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, would not comment.

Chong quit Stephen Harper's cabinet on a matter of principle in 2006, a move which endeared him to those who felt Harper exercised too much control over cabinet and his caucus.