BRAMPTON, ONT. --
Patrick Brown has formally joined the race to guide the federal Conservatives, with a promise to heal the fractures which have erupted within the get together over latest years.
Brown, 43, launched his marketing campaign in Brampton, Ont., the place he has served as mayor since 2018.
He walked on stage on the Queen's Manor Occasion Centre together with his spouse, Genevieve, and their two kids Sunday as the group chanted his title.
Brown's speech pitched a marketing campaign that gives a higher voice for caucus members and an even bigger Conservative tent.
"I need individuals who have by no means voted Conservative, and voted for different events to really feel welcome in our household," Brown advised the group Sunday.
Brown, recognized throughout the get together as a hardworking organizer, is the fifth candidate to enter the Conservative management race, already populated by former federal Progressive Conservative chief Jean Charest and Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre.
Rookie Ontario MP Leslyn Lewis and Unbiased Ontario MPP Roman Baber are additionally operating.
Brown's political roots run deep in Brampton, and it is part of the nation the place Conservatives know they should develop their help in the event that they hope to kind authorities.
He promised to try this with out sacrificing seats in western or rural Canada, and instructed the get together must cease treating Conservative members within the west "like an ATM and begin delivering election victories."
In his speech, Brown addressed the primary concern raised about his candidacy by get together membership: his help for carbon pricing throughout his time as chief of the Progressive Conservatives in Ontario.
Many get together members reject carbon pricing as an ineffective "tax," together with Poilievre, who has vowed to repeal the federal shopper carbon worth and attacked Brown over his help of the coverage.
Simply earlier than Brown introduced his management candidacy, Poilievre's group launched an assault advert with the tag line "Patrick Brown will say and do something," declaring his inconsistent place on environmental coverage.
"Previous makes an attempt by conservative events in Canada to handle local weather change, together with one which I led, have not been performed with session with our membership or caucus," he stated.
"Belief me from expertise, I can undoubtedly admit that's not the proper strategy."
He stated, if elected chief, the get together would resolve on its environmental coverage collectively.
"I am assured that collectively we will provide you with a successful place, one which addresses local weather change and respects provincial jurisdictions, vitality safety, vitality sector staff, whereas maintaining life reasonably priced," he stated.
Brown just lately wrote a letter asking Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to forgo a deliberate improve for April 1, citing the value of fuel and different affordability points.
Brown additionally made a pitch to rebuild belief with Canada's "cultural communities," a voter base who name the nation's largest cities and suburbs dwelling and whose help Conservatives should win over in the event that they hope to win the subsequent election.
Brown's speech touted his opposition to Quebec's Invoice 21, a controversial secularism regulation in that province that prohibits public servants in positions of authority from carrying non secular symbols on the job.
As Brampton's mayor, Brown spearheaded a plan for cities to pledge cash to assist fund a authorized problem of the regulation.
He additionally condemned the Conservatives' guarantees for a barbaric cultural practices hotline and a niqab ban through the 2015 election as an try to stifle non secular freedoms and normalize intolerance. These insurance policies had been the rationale Conservatives misplaced that race in opposition to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he stated.
Brown's turbulent political profession has been outlined by its ups and downs.
Born in Toronto, he was a younger Tory who in 2000 was elected as a metropolis councillor in Barrie, Ont. From there, he turned an MP in former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper's authorities.
Brown left federal politics after successful management of Ontario's Progressive Conservative get together in 2015, the place he served because the province's Opposition chief till 2018.
Inside months of an election -- at a time when the Liberal authorities had spent greater than a decade in energy -- in January 2018 CTV revealed allegations of sexual misconduct from two ladies in opposition to Brown.
The allegations haven't been confirmed in courtroom, nor have they been independently verified by The Canadian Press. Brown has lengthy denied them.
However after initially promising to remain within the job, Brown resigned the subsequent day and inside weeks was kicked out of caucus.
He then ran for mayor of Brampton, Ont., and was elected in October 2018. He has remained in that function ever since.
Final week, Brown and CTV resolved a years-long defamation lawsuit he launched after the 2018 story.
In his speech Sunday, he provided the controversy for instance of his combating spirit.
"When the media tried to make me cancel tradition's newest sufferer by smearing me with false allegations I fought again and received," he stated, to cheers from the group.
An announcement launched by the broadcaster and Brown stated CTV regrets some factual inaccuracies their unique story contained. The assertion didn't specify what these inaccuracies had been and a CTV spokesperson declined to elaborate.
The unique article features a correction that updates the age of one in all two ladies who accused Brown of sexual misconduct.
The information community stated no cash exchanged palms within the settlement.
Brown has not signalled any intent to resign as mayor of Brampton whereas looking for the federal get together management. He has stated he would donate his wage to numerous causes, together with the William Osler Well being System Basis in Brampton in the course of the race.
Conservatives will discover out who their new chief is Sept. 10. Candidates have till June 3 to enroll new members and April 19 to declare they're operating.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 13, 2022.
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