Quebec Liberals turn to taxi mogul Alexandre Taillefer to run re-election campaign

High-profile Quebec entrepreneur Alexandre Tailleferhas confirmed he will chair the Liberals' re-election campaign, sayinghe can relate to Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard's "progressive views."

In a tweet, he said it wasn't an easy decision, but he felt it necessary because of what's at stake.

On Monday,Taillefersaid he wouldn't be running in the Oct. 1 electionbut did say he would get involved in some way.

"It's a good way for me to get involved in politics.It's a good way for me to talk about the future of Quebec, to talk about the topics that are important to me," said Taillefer.

"I'm part of a party that has been around for 151 years, has been able to reinvent itself, and that's what I want to do. I want to make sure we can reinvent the Liberal Party."

He said he doesn't believethe role creates a conflictwith his businesses.

"I will be in a position where I will be scrutinized more than ever, and the last thing I want is that people perceive something that might introduce a conflict of interest."

Hewill replace former premier Daniel Johnson, who held the same position during the 2014 election.

Couillardpraised Taillefer as a man who is "part of today's Quebec" and said he will bea positive addition to the team.

"A young man who made his own business, who has been also socially very forceful in his points of view, fits very well with our party, which mixes economic development and social justice," the premiersaid.

And while Taillefer has previously said he was proud not to be affiliated with any political parties, Couillardsaid clearly, something has prompted him to changehis mind.

Taillefer founded To Taxi, an app-based service that uses only electric cars, and bought out two of the main traditional taxi companies that operate in Montreal as well.

He built his fortune in the early2000sin information technology. He owns Mishmash Media, which in turn owns the French-language current affairs magazineL'actualitand theFrench-language cultural magazineVoir.

He is managing partner of XPND Capital, a private equity firm, served as a dragonon Radio-Canada's version of theDragons' Den television series, and sits on a number of boards of Montreal institutions.

According to Radio-Canada,Tailleferdoesn't intend to quit any positions that have ties to the government, including his role as head of theMused'artcontemporaindeMontral'sboard of trustees, because he isn't running for office.

Couillardechoed that sentiment, saying many people have chaired campaigns and didn't have to divest themselves of their various other interests.