MacKay made the four-word announcement on Twitter Wednesday afternoon

Former Central Nova MP and cabinet minister Peter MacKay will seek the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada.

MacKay made the four-word announcement on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.

I'm in. Stay tuned. — Peter MacKay (@PeterMacKay) January 15, 2020



He's been pegged as a contender to take over the party for years, not just since Andrew Scheer stepped down last month.

MacKay was instrumental in creating the modern incarnation of the Conservatives, having helmed half of its predecessor, the Progressive Conservatives.

That party merged with the Canadian Alliance in 2003, and MacKay went to work under the new boss: Stephen Harper.

MacKay, who is from a longtime conservative family in Nova Scotia, would go on to serve in multiple cabinet posts in Harper's three Conservative governments.

With files from Canadian Press