By Ray Rivers
January 25, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Damn I hate when that happens. Now I owe my publisher, a bottle of single malt over who’ll win the election this year. But I won’t give it to him until election night, just in case Brown manages to defy gravity and bounce back.
We don’t know anything about the allegations of sexual misconduct which have led to this yet, though that detail seems irrelevant at this point. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, here in Canada. But it is pretty incriminating when virtually all of his office staff had resigned because he initially wouldn’t – though he has now. No doubt we’ll be getting the tabloid details in weeks to come, but it sure looks like he and his political career are toast.
Patrick Brown – former leader of the Progressive Conservative party in Ontario
The Ontario PCs will have a major test before them to appoint a new leader and determine if they move away from the platform Brown had assembled. Despite Liberal accusations that he was playing stealth with his carving knife, this was one of the most progressive and middle-of-the-road Tory platforms in over a generation.
Given that most Ontario voters still had no idea who Patrick Brown was, this gives the PCs a chance to grab the limelight in Ontario politics and introduce a new leader. And depending on their choice that may more than compensate politically for having to shed Brown when the polls looked so good for them. So this may not be the gift for the Liberals that some pundits might speculate it is for them.
Still, this has to be a huge personal defeat for Brown who had spent his entire life up to now priming himself for political leadership. If the facts prevail against him in this case, that will be another huge lesson for everyone, and especially males with a penchant for whatever it was he did that led to this.
Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was once a candidate for provincial office in Burlington. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
There was someone waiting in the wings – she never expected to become the leadership this way.
Publisher’s note: Whenever Rivers has to pay up on his wager debts he invites me to his home and we seem to consume all of the bet that I won.
About time the PC party is cleaning house. Maybe, they should look at the Burlington PC party president. He was Patrick Brown, Rick Dykstra, and Bob Stanley’s greatest supporter. NO ONE SHOULD EVER FEEL INTIMIDATED BY AN EXECUTIVE MEMBER OR MEMBERS
TO WIN, THE PC party needs to investigate those individuals who want to lead the party.
Disgusting behaviour of “so called professional individuals “.
1) Doesn’t the PC party have a process to vet their candidates?
2) Why didn’t Patrick Brown reach out to the skeletons in his closet and attempt to resolve all his old guilt issues – BEFORE they became public?
3) Curious why after ten years the accusers chose THIS day to come forward but probably better now than the day after he would have been elected premier.
4) Where are Doug Ford and/or Kevin O’Leary to arrive and helm the ship?
5) Somehow this whole matter “seems” to have been orchestrated, especially as it comes right after the Liberal’s David Livingston is found guilty.
6) Don’t forget that many people choose to vote for the best candidate in their riding – not necessarily for the party.
7) All of this makes for an exciting election season!
Absolutely brilliant editorial in this morning’s National Post by Christie Blatchford:
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/christie-blatchford-what-happened-to-brown-is-fundamentally-wrong-every-man-in-the-world-is-now-vulnerable
Two important quotes that are germane to this discussion:
“If reporters are to be the new detectives, and media the modern court, then let there be some rules”.
“That all this comes five months before the Ontario election means only one thing, as my wise muse put it: “#MeToo is shaking the foundations of our democracy” because fundamental to a democracy is — was — the right to face your accuser and make full answer in defence”.
” I think a three woman election campaign would be most interesting and we can hope that it might lessen the chances of some sexually inappropriate accusation arising at an inconvenient time.”
Well Gary you would be partly right in that statement but if anyone thinks a woman is above getting in the muck I would beg to differ.
An old phrase comes to mind about now, “….cast the first stone.”
I left my first professional job precisely because I was being harassed and impugned along with another coworker nearly 30 years ago.It was pretty vile what was unleashed upon us.
I left and in my exit interview I predicted the demise of the branch correctly.
Schadenfreude isn’t much for consolation when your talking about a career though.
OMG, all this sexual harassment is getting out of control. Like you say after 10, 20, 30, years of passing that the females are now coming forward because what they opted to accept at the time, they with maturity have had a guilt about the situation and are now turning the tides on their male friends. I am from the old school and believe me if I felt that I was not initiating something and it was forced upon me, I would take things into my hands to make sure it didn’t happen. So many of these girls/women have no common sense to deal with these matters and just let things happen. Probably enjoying it at the time, and then years later with guilt decide to come forward as being sexually harassed. Give me a break. Everyone knows males testosterone levels at that age are rampant and I think the girls bring a lot of this onto their own plate. Sorry girls, but I dealt with it many, many times over the years and I stayed sober during all parties to be in control of all my actions and the guys also. It worked!! Interviews in a man’s hotel room isn’t a smart move for any female. Duh! Comments like: he was kissing me, and I froze, and then you end up in bed. Hello! Think if you were really serious about your allegations you would have left him before it got that far! I’m not saying that the guys are innocent, I’m saying you could have taken care of the situation at the time, you didn’t, and now years later you come forward ruining a guys life and profession. Good thing I’m not a Judge!
If the Ontario PCs are smart they will try to draft Rona Ambrose.
The current #metoo environment has made it easier for women to come forward.
Christine Elliott would be a good choice.
What about Christine Elliott? She was runner-up in the Leadership race.
Some of the questions raised by Stephen White are germane. I think the vetting process is very thin and needs overhaul. As to why now; I am betting that the Liberals, who have so far not been able to dent Brown’s armour, did some digging to get some dirt on him. How long they have had it is anyone’s guess, but in the mob culture of hang first, trial, maybe later, if he is lucky, the atmosphere is ripe for this kind accusation.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in the fact that he at first wouldn’t step down and then changed his mind. The guy appeared pretty shell-shocked.
With respect to the future, perhaps Lisa Raitt will be tempted to throw in since it doesn’t look like Baby Doc and his minions will be looking for new jobs next federal election day. I would support her or Christine Elliott who has been my MPP. I think a three woman election campaign would be most interesting and we can hope that it might lessen the chances of some sexually inappropriate accusation arising at an inconvenient time.
Sexual harassment and sexual assault are never acceptable. That being said, anyone accused of this is entitled to a thorough, confidential investigation, due process, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
What I find curious is the following:
1) If the allegations are true, why did it take over 10 years for the accusers to come forward?
2) Why are these allegations surfacing now…five months before a provincial election? Why wasn’t anything raised during the 2015 Leadership Convention?
3) Candidates running for political office are usually vetted by the provincial office of the party they represent. Did the Ontario PC Party conduct background checks on Patrick Brown prior to him running for the Party leadership? Were the accusers interviewed for their feedback as part of this vetting?
4) Were any allegations of impropriety investigated by the Conservative Party while Brown was an MP?
5) When the allegations were first raised why didn’t Brown offer to step down immediately? It wasn’t until a number of staffers resigned that he announced he would resign.
As for Brown’s replacement, I would opt for either Todd Smith (MPP for Prince Edward-Hastings) or Lisa MacLeod from Nepean. Either would do a great job as Leader or Premier.
Stephen – workplace culture 10, 20, 30 years ago was completely different than today. While sexual harassment has of course always been wrong, certain workplace cultures allowed it to flourish. Victims of sexual harassment experience shame, low self-esteem and denial. They also blame themselves and they fear the consequences of speaking up. Culture of the past has always been ‘to keep quiet’; ‘let it go’; ‘forget about it’; ‘am I overreacting’. Thankfully, the attention this issue has had recently has provided confidence to victims to find their voices. Harassment and assault are inexcusable and unacceptable and must never be condoned or swept under the rug.
While, it is true that the accused is entitled to a thorough investigation and due process, your questions in 1) and 2) seem to be blame the victims. The timing of when a victim feels confidence to speak up should never be questioned.
You are correct Kerri…harassment and assault are inexcusable and unacceptable. So is abrogating due process and ignoring the presumption that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
Having worked in various Human Resources positions during my career, and having conducted multiple workplace investigations including some involving harassment and discrimination, I can tell you that things aren’t always what they appear. Until all the evidence is confirmed, all the facts known, witnesses interviewed and events corroborated it is best not to jump to conclusions.
Case in point: the former Attorney-General and MPP Michael Bryant was involved in a motor vehicle accident in which a cyclist was killed. There was widespread criticism at the time, and Bryant was charged with criminal negligence. During the investigation several facts came to light which exonerated Mr. Bryant.
https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2010/05/25/prosecutor_why_charges_against_michael_bryant_were_dropped.html
Yes, the alleged victims have a right to speak up, but the accused also has a right to due process. That’s the basis upon which our judicial system is based.
PC leader Patrick Brown’s sudden resignation last night certainly introduces a wild card into the Ontario June election. It is conceivable that Christine Elliott will be chosen to lead the PCs and would entre the election unscrutinised with a big post convention bump.
If the PC’s are smart, they’ll pick Elliott.
It could also significantly enhance NDP leader Andrea Horwath’s chances.
If anything, this is very bad news for the Premier. Then again, Premier Kathleen Wynne is a very adept and savvy campaigner.
To be sure, the lights will be burning extra late in all the parties as they map out new strategies under completely unforeseen scenarios.
We could well see the next Ontario election fought with 3 women leaders.
How this all plays out is anyone’s guess.