Alexandre Cloutier wil make another run at the leadership of the Parti Quebecois.
He made his formal announcement Friday morning in Alma, in the riding he has represented since 2007.
Cloutier spoke of diversity and mentioned the anglophone and aboriginal communities and the importance of women in politics.
"We totally recognize them. We recognize their rights, and we will do as we have always been doing. It's a friendly relationship. They are entirely Quebecers and we will make sure they all have their place in Quebec," said Cloutier.
He also mentioned former leader Pierre Karl Peladeau and his institute fo the study of sovereignty and how he would work to prove that sovereignty could benefit Quebecers.
When Cloutier ran for the head of the party last year he came second to Pierre Karl Peladeau with 29 percent of the vote.
Cloutier talked about that last leadership run on Friday, calling it a marathon that led him across the province and taught him a lot.
He now joins Veronique Hivon as an official candidate for the leadership.
Others PQ MNAs, including Martine Ouellet and Jean-Francois Lisée, are contemplating the idea of running.
During the 2015 leadership race, Cloutier said he would not hold a referendum until one million Quebecers signed a petition demanding a referendum for an independent Quebec.
Asked about that again Friday, he said that he is still convinced that it would take a large mobilization of Quebecers and transparency to reach sovereignty.
He also said that Quebecers could not be expected to sign a blank cheque and that by 2018 he wanted to make it extremely clear to Quebecers what they would be voting for if they elected the PQ to power.
Cloutier, 38, served as Intergovernmental Affairs Minister under Pauline Marois.
On Saturday, Joliette MNA Veronique Hivon became the first person to announce their candidacy for the position vacated by Peladeau, who resigned suddently on May 2.
