A defiant Brown stages a love-in
Former PC leader defends himself against misconduct allegations, says party he grew should be his to run
Patrick Brown was all smiles as he looked out over a room full of cheering supporters Sunday, a far cry from when he sullenly addressed the media three weeks ago to deny sexual misconduct allegations.
During what seemed more a love-in than political rally, the former leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives, took to a stage in a Mississauga hotel to play up his People’s Guarantee platform, saying he is the one to see it delivered as the party’s reinstated leader.
Flanked by about a dozen MPP candidates and supporters chanting “Patrick, Patrick, Patrick,” Brown officially launched his campaign to get his old job back. He is one of five candidates now vying to lead the party into the provincial election slated for June.
“I am the only candidate in this race willing to stand behind the platform that you built, that our grassroots built,” he told the crowd. “I’ve been accused of threatening the very existence of our incredible new PC party by running for the job that you elected me to three years ago, the party that you and I took from a dwindling 12,000 members to the largest provincial party in Canada.”
Interim leader Vic Fedeli said in an email to the Tory caucus earlier this month that the party has roughly 67,000 fewer members than the 200,000 Brown claimed in early January.
Brown stepped down late last month in the wake of a CTV News story in which he was accused of sexual misconduct involving young women. In a startling aboutface Friday, he announced he was seeking to reclaim his former job, despite being booted from caucus the same day.
At Sunday’s rally, Brown addressed the allegations against him, telling his campaign launch he believes he’s cleared his name. “What has happened to me, I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. To be vilified without due process is absolutely gutting,” he said.
As proof of his innocence, Brown said he passed two lie detector tests. He called CTV’s story “sloppy journalism” and said his lawyers are in the process of launching a lawsuit against the news organization. CTV has said it stands by its reporting.
Brown said the events in which he was accused of sexual misconduct “could not have happened.”
“It was factually impossible,” Brown said Sunday. “CTV News has been forced to admit key parts of their story were simply not true.
“When the truth is on your side, you have nothing to fear,” he added. “A free press is vital to a sound democracy, but so too is the responsibility to get it right. Hopefully the media will be more careful when it comes to attacking someone on the basis of a lie.”
Jessica Puddifant, a longtime friend of Brown’s, said the Barrie politician has already redeemed himself.
“He spoke the truth and he stood by it,” she said after the rally.
Puddifant told the Star she was at the 2013 party in Barrie where one of the alleged incidents occurred.
“Everyone was just hanging out and celebrating together,” she said.
“Nobody was forcing drinks on anyone.”
Brown said what spurred his bid to reclaim the leadership was “overwhelming support from the public.”
Strong families are front and centre to the campaign, Brown said, because the “burden” on them continues to grow, which he wants to reverse with the People’s Guarantee.
“It’s a platform that provides real relief to Ontario families,” he said.
The goals include lower income taxes for the middle class by 22 per cent, a refund of 75 per cent for childcare expenses, a reduction in hydro rates by 12 per cent and investments in mental health, he said.
“And we guarantee the first-ever trust, integrity and accountability act, so you can make sure that we’re doing what we pledge,” he said to applause.
Brown said replacement policy cannot be crafted “on the fly” so close to election season, noting “it is a recipe for disaster.”
Brown characterized criticism he has faced as “petty internal nonsense” and said it has been a distraction from the issues important to the province.
“We are fighting for the people of Ontario. We can’t fight amongst ourselves,” he said.
“To my colleagues in this race, Doug (Ford), Christine (Elliott), Caroline (Mulroney) and Tanya (Granic Al- len), we’re all on the same team, we must lead this race united.”
Two of Brown’s competitors — Mulroney and Ford — say Brown joining the race is pulling attention away from what should be the party’s real objective: defeating the Liberals.
Granic Allen, a social conservative, said in an interview with the Star she looks forward to competing against Brown to suss out his shortcomings.
“Patrick Brown needs to be held to account,” she said for the “manner in which he governed this party.”
Angely Pacis, Conservative candi- date for Mississauga-Centre, said Brown has been the victim of an “inside job.”
“All of this ruined (him),” she said. “Thank God he has the courage to come back. He didn’t do it for himself.
“He knows the people of Ontario are counting on him. That’s why he’s our No. 1 choice.”
Brown will sit as an independent when the legislature resumes on Tuesday. His bid to seek the leadership must still be approved.