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The game is on.

Former central Nova MP Peter MacKay officially launched his federal Conservative leadership campaign Saturday at the Museum of Industry, the same place where he announced in 2015 that he was stepping away from politics.

“Almost 23 years ago, I began my journey in politics right here,” MacKay said, with a giant Canadian flag behind him and with his family, including his father (long-time MP Elmer MacKay), his wife Nazanin and two of their children, seated in front of him.

“History and roots matter.”

The event started with MacKay making his way to the stage through a throng of party faithful as – perhaps fittingly, considering his family background in politics – Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run’ was played over the public address system, and ended with carloads of Pictou County’s brown-sauce pizza being carried into the museum.

In between, MacKay spoke confidently in both English and French, with one of the major themes being national unity.

“This government,” he said of Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, “pits city against country, industry against industry, and region against region. I’m here to stand up with you and do my part to unite this country. If divided, we falter. We fail.”

Leadership, he added, taking one of his few direct jabs at Trudeau, “is not about selfies or photo ops, or dressing up and dancing.”

The 54-year-old MacKay was an MP from 1997 until 2015. After the Conservatives took power in the 2006 federal election, MacKay would serve as justice minister, defence minister and at one time, handled the foreign affairs portfolio under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Stating his intention to help build “a common vision of growth and opportunity, of a Canada that stands tall in this world,” MacKay said that “the Liberal government has broken faith with Canadians, and let’s be clear: we as a party need to earn the trust of Canadians.”

One of MacKay’s handlers said after the event that MacKay will spend the next few months criss-crossing the country, drumming up support for his campaign, and to some extent, support for the Conservative party itself.

Conservative party members will elect its leader on June 27 in Toronto.

“Those of you who know me know that there’s something my parents instilled in me at a very young age, like so many Canadian parents: you can’t pass by a person in trouble, or turn a blind eye” MacKay said, again turning to the theme of unity.

“If you believe you can help, if you have something (you can) do, be a good Samaritin, whether it be a neighbor or a stranger. It’s the people who built this country, people who work and take initiative, who know that the fruits of success are there to harvest if you keep on with determination.”

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