Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown denied allegations of sexual misconduct at an unexpected news conference at the provincial legislature on Wednesday night, calling them “categorically untrue”.
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As for what the allegations and Brown’s resignation will mean for the party as a whole as it prepares for the June 7 election, Parks said the party is more than just its leader.
The former federal MP resigned as leader Friday after two women made allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to when Brown was in federal politics. “This is not how I’m raised”.
Three of Mr. Brown’s top aides had quit on Wednesday after urging him to resign. But he built a strong organization and signed up thousands of new members to the party from communities in the Greater Toronto Area that had shown little support for the PCs. “They were slowly coming to the conclusion that PB was not the right leader and they were going to lose the election”.
Hehr and Brown are the highest-profile Canadians to see their careers derailed by allegations of sexual misconduct since the victims of sexual harassment and abuse launched the #MeToo social media movement previous year.
Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece released a statement on Thursday that said, “There can be no room for harassment of any kind”.
“It was a shock to see, when I woke up this morning”, Bert said of the news that Brown had stepped down in the wee hours. “I haven’t put my support behind anyone in particular and I want to hear from any and all candidates and people who willing to put themselves forward”.
“I’m disgusted and disturbed by these sexual misconduct allegations”.
But Horwath did suggest Brown should step down from his seat.
There was some debate among reporters about whether Brown could even be forced out by his caucus – technically, the PC leader is chosen by members, and only they have the power to remove him. I have instructed my attorneys to ensure that these allegations are addressed where they should be: “in a court of law”. But with causes like One Billion Rising and the work that Women and Children’s Shelter, Canadian Women’s Foundation and so many other organizations do not only in the #MeToo Movement, I applaud anyone and everyone who comes forward, male or female, if they feel at any time that their rights are violated, have been manipulated or taken advantage of in any way. Brown says he will stay on as MPP, but it seems only a matter of time before that will also become untenable.
Dykstra says that interim leader will serve until a new leader is picked in a leadership election, according to the party’s constitution.
As parliamentary assistant to then-Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne, Sandals was involved in looking at the issue of gender-based harassment and sexual violence in schools.
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By Thursday afternoon, just 12 hours after Brown announced his resignation, Access Research was conducting a telephone poll asking how the sexual allegations had impacted responders’ votes, and which leader they would prefer Doug Ford, Lisa McLeod, Tony Clement, Caroline Mulroney, John Baird, Christine Elliott or Lisa Raitt. “No woman should ever have to face harassment in the workplace”. That ad was called, “It’s never ok”, Wynne said in a statement. “The allegations against the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario are extremely serious and should be investigated fully”.
