Amanda Simard confident about future of Ontario PC Party

PC Ontario candidate for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Amanda Simard, is confident about the future of the Ontario PC Party after the resignation of PC leader, Patrick Brown. Amanda Simard, candidate pour le Parti progressiste-conservateur (PC) de l’Ontario pour Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, a répondu, sur ses médias sociaux, aux allégations d’inconduite sexuelle portées contre le chef du PC Patrick Brown. « Un tel comportement est complètement inacceptable et n’a pas sa place dans notre société, a-t-elle commenté. Maintenant, il est temps d’aller de l’avant et de choisir notre nouveau chef, a ajouté Mme. Simard.

“We’ve put together a solid platform that will make positive changes to the burdens that Ontarians have been feeling with Kathleen Wynne’s policies,” said Simard. “Now, it’s time to move forward and select our new leader.”

Vic Fedeli, the MPP for Nipissing, was appointed as interim leader of the party, on Friday, January 26. This move comes the day after the resignation of Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown, last week, amidst allegations of sexual misconduct. The allegations date back to when Brown was a federal MP.

Simard initially responded to the allegations over her social media, on Thursday, January 25.

“The allegations of sexual misconduct put forward by women against Patrick Brown (…) are very serious,” she said. “Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place in our society. Although they are only allegations at this time, and I trust there will be due process, I believe that Mr. Brown made the right decision in resigning as Leader.”

Simard also went on to say that right now is the time to look forward to the future and select the new leader of the party for the upcoming election. The party executive has decided that a leadership race will be held to choose Brown’s replacement by the end of March.

Doug Ford, runner-up to John Tory in the 2014 Toronto mayoral race and oneterm city councillor, has officially thrown his hat in the rink for the leadership position. Simard supported the idea of a leadership race, along with over 30 other candidates, including Caroline Mulroney and Rod Phillips, amongst others. Rick Dykstra, the president of the Ontario PC Party, also resigned from his post on Sunday, January 28, before Maclean’s published allegations that he sexually assaulted a young staffer in 2014 while he was serving as an MP. Amidst the turmoil the Ontario PC Party is facing, just months before the June 7 election campaign is set to begin, Simard stays steady in her message.

“Life has become unaffordable under Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals,” said Simard. “It’s been 14 years of Liberal waste, scandal and mismanagement. It’s time for change in Ontario.”

“Together as a team, we will defeat Kathleen Wynne and this Liberal government,” Simard added. “The people of Ontario deserve better.”

“Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and has no place in our society. Although they are only allegations at this time, and I trust there will be due process, I believe that Mr. Brown made the right decision in resigning as Leader.”