Ontario Tory leader Brown denies sex allegations
Three staffers resign months before election
• Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown is “categorically” denying what he describes as “troubling allegations” about his conduct and his character, saying he will defend himself in the court of law.
A visibly emotional Brown said late Wednesday that he was made aware of the allegations hours earlier, but did not provide details on what those allegations are.
CTV News tweeted that two women have come forward with graphic sexual misconduct allegations against Brown. The broadcaster said the alleged incidents date back to when Brown was a federal MP.
“These allegations are false. Every one of them,” Brown said at a late-night news conference at the legislature. “I can’t speculate on the motive of my accusers, I can only say that what they are saying is categorically untrue.”
Brown said he has instructed his lawyers to ensure that the allegations are addressed in court.
The leader of the Opposition noted that “it’s never OK” for anyone to feel they have been a victim of sexual harassment or feel threatened in any way.
“I reject these accusation in the strongest possible terms,” Brown said. “This is not how I’m raised. This is not who I am.”
He did not take questions from reporters and left immediately afterward.
On Wednesday evening, Brown’s campaign manager Andrew Boddington, chief of staff Alykhan Velshi and deputy campaign manager Dan Robertson announced in a joint statement that they had resigned after Brown disregarded their advice to resign in the wake of the allegations.
Brown has been leading in the polls as the province heads to the polls this summer.
He was first elected as federal MP in 2006 as part of the Conservative government after serving as a Barrie city councillor. He was reelected twice, once in 2008 and again in 2011.
During his time in Ottawa, Brown served as a backbench MP in Stephen Harper’s government and has been frequently criticized by political opponents for voting in favour of reopening the abortion debate.
He won the PC leadership in 2015, beating longtime Ontario legislator and favourite Christine Elliott.