Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong may launch Tory leadership bid soon: Report

There is growing speculation Wellington-Halton Hills MP Michael Chong will be throwing his hat into the Conservative leadership race.

On Tuesday morning, The Hill Times reporter Abbas Rana tweeted Chong will launch a leadership campaign next week.

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Chong's office would not confirm the report.

Only two candidates have officially entered the race to replace former prime ministerStephen Harper: Ontario MPKellieLeitchand Quebec MP Maxime Bernier.

In an interview with The Morning Edition's Craig Norris in January, Chong said he was considering running.

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"People have told me, who have encouraged me to run, that they're attracted to my candidacy because of the policy ideas I've put forward on issues like democratic reform, on the environment and that they identify with my family story of immigration and of hard work to achieve success in this country," Chong said in that interview.

"Those are the things I've heard from Conservatives and constituents that have encouraged me to run, and so I am seriously considering it."

If he does run, Chong has already received support from high-profile MP Peter Kent, the former federalenvironment minister. Kent tweeted on Sunday that there is a "good field" of leadership candidates and he was "hoping" Chong would join the race.

Chong has served as an MP since 2004. He is popular with his constituents - he won his seat with 50.9 per cent of the vote in October's federal election.