Former Parti Québécois health minister Réjean Hébert seeks to run for federal Liberals

Former Parti Québécois minister Réjean Hébert is seeking to be a candidate for Justin Trudeau's Liberals in the October federal election.

Hébert made the announcement Tuesday at a restaurant in Longueuil surrounded by his family.

The former provincial health minister will go up against local city councillor Éric 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, Hébert believes the federal government can play an important role in getting the provinces to approach care differently.

Hébert says he's turned the page on the sovereignist-federalist fight, saying Quebecers don't want another referendum.

Hébert, dean of the School of Public Health at Université de Montréal, was provincial health minister between 2012 and 2014 under Pauline Marois's short-lived PQ minority government.