The Garden City Refugee

Dear Patrick Brown

February 17, 2018

Dear Mr. Brown:

Like many others, I was disturbed by the recent allegations of sexual misconduct made against you. I was equally disturbed by the rush to judgment among the masses. Sadly, it has become all too commonplace in today’s climate.

I will continue to presume your innocence until proven otherwise. It is a presumption we should all enjoy should we find ourselves under the same or similar circumstances that you do. Moreover, I wish you all the best in your efforts to clear your name and punish those who have allegedly defamed you.

But I don’t want you back as the leader of the Ontario PC Party.

Long before those allegations came to light, your performance has left many party members like myself feeling very much betrayed as you turned your back on the key principles you campaigned on in your 2015 leadership bid.

I listened as you attacked rival Christine Elliott for being Liberal-lite, only to watch as you turned the party in that very direction upon becoming leader. You attacked former leader Tim Hudak for announcing his plan for mass civil service job cuts without consultation, yet you surprised us all when you announced your support for a wildly unpopular carbon tax. Furthermore, you whipped your caucus into supporting a provincial equivalent of the hated and divisive M-103 motion introduced by the federal Liberals, a party you had been emulating more than attacking.

More recently, interim leader Vic Fedeli has identified significant “rot” within the party. As the leader for the past two years, this is something you bear ultimate responsibility for.

Now that your name is in the process of being cleared, I can absolutely understand wanting to get your job back. You’ve been scorned and you want to get right back on the horse. But your entry into the leadership race makes it a circus, one in which no one will benefit, least of all you.

I thank you for your efforts in leading the party, including all you have done to attract new members, but for the good of the party and our province, I strongly urge you to withdraw from the race at once. Based solely on your performance, you have not earned the right to continue to lead the party. I would suggest instead focusing your boundless energy, a trait I have come to greatly admire ever since first meeting you here in St. Catharines, on representing your constituents at Queen’s Park and throwing your support behind the new leader as the provincial election grows near.