Rumour’s become reality as former Harper government cabinet minister Peter MacKay’s officially thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Andrew Scheer as federal Conservative leader.

(Reuters/The Chronicle Herald)

For now MacKay’s confirmation came in a four-word tweet:  ”I’m in.  Stay tuned.”

He’s expected to formally launch his campaign late next week.

MacKay will be running to head the party he helped create, having taken charge of the PC Party and merging it with Stephen Harper’s Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party in 2003.

Jean Charest, who led the PC party from 1993 to ’98, is said to be close to deciding whether to run as is former interim leader Rona Ambrose.

MPs Erin O’Toole and Pierre Poilievre are expected to announce soon.

So far MP Marilyn Gladu is the only Conservative aside from MacKay to jump into the race.