Former Parti Québécois minister Réjean Hébert says he will seek to be a candidate for Justin Trudeau’s Liberals in a Montreal-area riding in the October federal election.
Hébert made the announcement today at a restaurant in Longueuil surrounded by his family.
READ MORE: Réjean Hébert, former PQ minister, expected to seek federal Liberal nomination
The former provincial health minister will go up against local city councillor Eric Beaulieu in a bid to run for the Liberals in the riding of Longueuil-Saint-Hubert against the incumbent, the NDP’s Pierre Nantel.
Hébert says his interest in federal politics lies in defending health care issues, including home care and the impact of climate change on the health of citizens.
While health care falls under provincial jurisdiction, Hebert believes the federal government can play an important role in getting the provinces to approach care differently.
READ MORE: Steven Guilbeault will run for the federal Liberals in Montreal
Hébert says he’s turned the page on the sovereigntist-federalist fight, saying Quebecers don’t want another referendum.
Hébert, dean of the School of Public Health at the Université de Montréal, was provincial health minister between 2012 and 2014 under Pauline Marois’ short-lived PQ minority government.
WATCH BELOW: Justin Trudeau already campaigning in Quebec City