Retired general Andrew Leslie says he spoke to the Conservatives before joining the Liberal Party

The battle between the Conservative Party and retired general Andrew Leslie has, so far, overshadowed Day 2 of the Liberal policy convention in Montreal.

Leslie, of course, has been the subject of Tory attacks since last weekend when CTV News reported that the man, who once led Canada's mission in Afghanistan, charged taxpayers $72,000 in 2012 for moving costs for a move four minutes away.

In a Friday afternoon keynote address the retired general fought back hinting that, before becoming a senior adviser to Justin Trudeau in 2013, he had spoken to other parties.

"I had conversations with several political parties on potential ways that I could best serve Canada," he said.

"Last year I made my decision. I wanted to join a team motivated to serve Canadians through hope and hard work. I wanted a leader that I could follow heart and soul.

"One of the other political parties — doesn't seem to be taking the news too well. I want to tell them, look, it wasn't you it was me. You know what, after this last week...it was really them."

Pushed by media at a somewhat awkward post-speech press conference, Leslie admitted that he had indeed spoken to the Tories about joining them.

He also defended his $72,000 benefit.

"The benefit is part of the settlement package conditions in which we joined the Canadian Armed Forces," he told the room of reporters who seemed annoyed with his coyness.

"It's been in place for decades. It's managed by the Conservative government. It's overseen by the Conservative Minister of National Defence."

[ Related: Trudeau addresses Liberal faithful: was it ‘Clinton-esque’ or more vagueness? ]

The Tories responded with a curt statement saying that this wasn't a case of the Conservative Party courting Leslie.

"Andrew Leslie approached the Conservative Party of Canada," Cory Hann, Conservative Party spokesperson, told Yahoo Canada News in an email exchange.

"His lack of judgment and defense of excessive taxpayer spending further underscores why he is Justin Trudeau’s senior adviser."

[ Related: DND moving expenses: A cheap political attack or reason for concern? ]

As for Leslie's future, he also hinted that he intends to be a candidate for the Liberals in the 2015 election.

"[Justin Trudeau] did me the honour in running with my family and thousands of others during the army run in Ottawa. " Leslie said.

"I don't have anything to announce today but it was an honour to run with Justin and it would be an honour to run with him again."

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

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