Former Ontario Tory leader Brown breached integrity rules: Watchdog

The public had a right to know Patrick Brown accepted a loan from a man who would become a candidate for his party, Ontario’s integrity watchdog said after finding the former Progressive Conservative leader breached the laws that govern the conduct of provincial legislators.

In a 60-page ruling released Thursday, Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake said Brown breached the Member’s Integrity Act four times over matters involving his personal finances, but there was insufficient evidence to find him in breach over alleged travel violations.

“It is imperative that members take their disclosure obligations ... seriously,” Wake said in his decision. “When they do not, there should be consequences.” The investigation was triggered by a complaint in February from Tory legislator Randy Hillier, who alleged Brown “engaged in dirty and crooked politics.” By then Brown had resigned over sexual misconduct allegations that he vehemently denies.

Wake said Brown admitted he failed to disclose rental income of approximately $20,000 on his personal residence in 2016 and 2017 and failed to disclose a $375,000 loan from Jas Johal, a former Tory candidate in Brampton, in 2016 and 2017.

Of Brown’s four violations — two related to rental income and two related to the loan — failing to disclose the loan was the most serious breach as it involved a party candidate, Wake said. Brown, in his first filings to the integrity watchdog in February, called Hillier’s allegations “entirely fictional” and a “crass attempt to spin the legal as illegal.” In a second filing and later interviews, Brown admitted to certain breaches, Wake noted.

At the core of the complaint was Brown’s 2016 purchase of a $2.3 million five-bedroom lakefront home in his riding of SimcoeNorth. In order to close the deal Brown was required by the bank to pay a $575,000 down payment but only had $200,000 himself from the sale of his previous home, Wake’s investigation noted. Initially, Brown arranged a deal with Johal, who was a personal friend, to sell him his stake in a Barrie, Ont. bar and some Aeroplan miles for $375,000, Wake’s decision said. That deal was later dropped and Johal instead loaned Brown the money, the men told Wake during separate interviews. In a post on Twitter, Brown apologized for breaching the rules. “I accept the reprimand and apologize for not disclosing my limited rental income and temporary secondary mortgage,” he wrote. “Glad this matter is now closed.”

Imperative that members take their disclosure obligations ... seriously. When they do not, there should be consequences.