MONTREAL - It didn't take lifelong bureaucrat Gilles Duguay long to get his political feet wet.
Inside a cramped classroom where he was formally introduced as the Conservatives' candidate in an upcoming byelection, Duguay's target was Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and what he might have known about the federal sponsorship scandal.
"I'm telling you, if you read his CV, the man has been in cabinet since 1995, and if this university professor, descendant of a famous university professor, didn't know anything about the sponsorship scandal, I suggest you ask him whether he knew anything or not," Duguay said Wednesday.
Conservative candidates have not done well in recent elections in the riding of Outremont, but Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon attempted to put a different spin on the campaign, calling it a byelection that will focus on party leadership.
"I find it rather appalling that the leader of this (Liberal) party, who seeks to obtain some sense of credibility, hasn't even deemed it necessary to excuse his party for the wrongdoings that have happened in Quebec," said Cannon, who introduced Duguay.
Duguay also accused the Bloc Quebecois and leader Gilles Duceppe of deceiving Quebecers and spreading a fear of federalism.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has until Saturday to announce a date for the byelection in Outremont, which has been vacant since former Liberal transport minister Jean Lapierre quit politics in January.
Duguay spent years abroad representing Canada as an ambassador to countries in Africa and eastern Europe. He has also worked as a university professor and in private enterprise with Power Corp., a Montreal-based holding company.
A political novice, Duguay said he plans to go through a lot of footwear pounding the pavement and drumming up support in the multicultural riding he called a microcosm of Canada.
"I'll be sending my bill to the party for the five or six pairs of shoes," Duguay joked.
He has his work cut out for him in Outremont.
The Conservatives finished fourth in the Liberal stronghold in the 2004 and 2006 federal elections, while the NDP placed third both times.
This time, Duguay will challenge Liberal candidate Jocelyn Coulon, a professor at Universite de Montreal who has an expertise in international affairs.
The New Democratic Party is running former Quebec environment minister Thomas Muclair and the Bloc Quebecois is represented by Jean-Paul Gilson.
On the topic of Afghanistan, Duguay was quick to dismiss those who think Canada should "be in places to observe things and run away."
"We can stand up," Duguay said. "We have a tradition of bravery and participation in world events and I think we have to maintain this."
Harper has said he won't extend the mission beyond 2009 if he doesn't have political consensus from the four main political parties in Otttawa, a goal that looks implausible given the stiff resistance from the opposition.
