Little-known Tory backbencher Patrick Brown is the new leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party, defeating deputy PC leader Christine Elliott.
The 36-year-old Brown opened up an early lead over Elliott as the results were announced riding by riding on Saturday, and his margin kept growing.
Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MPP, Bill Walker, tells Bayshore Broadcasting News “we begin our journey to victory in 2018 under our new leader, Patrick Brown.”
Although Walker had supported Elliot’s leadership bid, he commends Brown “for bringing new energy to the PC Party and for running a well-organized campaign for which he deservedly won a strong mandate.”
According to Walker, “this leadership race was about bringing people back into our party and I think we’ve achieved that.”
During the campaign, the Progressive Conservatives have seen their numbers balloon with 76,000 new card-holding members added in just ten months.
Walker says “I have great confidence that united we will continue to grow our numbers, every day, as we chart our path to victory in 2018.”
Brown sold 41,000 PC memberships as he campaigned across the province, saying he was the fresh “reset” that could return the once-mighty party to power.
However, he doesn’t have a seat at Queen’s Park, and was supported by only five members of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
Brown had virtually no provincial profile until he launched his leadership bid by attacking the Tory establishment he blames for four consecutive election losses.
In the riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, 46 percent of eligible Tory voters cast a ballot for Brown, while the remaining 54 percent favoured Elliot.
Brown was the preferred candidate in the Huron-Bruce riding, where he received 52 percent of the vote as opposed to Elliot’s 48 percent.
Province-wide, Brown won by a margin of 61.8 per cent to 38.2 per cent.
He replaces the MPP for Niagara West-Glanbrook, Tim Hudak.
Hudak stepped down as Progressive Conservative leader after a disastrous defeat in the June 2014 provincial election.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson was named as the interim party leader.
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Statement from MPP Bill Walker on the Ontario PC Leadership Race
Today we begin our journey to victory in 2018 under our new leader, Patrick Brown. I commend Patrick for bringing new energy to the PC Party and for running a well-organized campaign for which he deservedly won a strong mandate. I look forward to working with Patrick and ensuring our party continues to grow strong and bring hope to Ontarians.
I believe this leadership race was about bringing people back into our party and I think weve achieved that. Were 76,000 people stronger than we were just 10 months ago, and I have great confidence that united we will continue to grow our numbers, every day, as we chart our path to victory in 2018.”