Ontario politicians react to Patrick Brown entering PC leadership race

Former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown will enter the party leadership race prompted by his resignation on Jan. 25, CBC, National Post and the Toronto Sun report.

Sources told the news outlets Brown was seen seen dropping off paperwork to enter the race at PC party headquarters on Friday, the last day to register.

Brown resigned from the position several weeks ago amid sexual misconduct allegations he has firmly denied. CTV, which published the original allegations from two women against Brown, has since reported that aspects of one accuser’s narrative were not completely accurate.

Since then, Brown has increased his efforts to clear his name.

The Toronto Sun reported on Friday he passed a lie detector test that asked him detailed questions about the sexual misconduct allegations against hum, and in an interview on Thursday he told Global TV he never officially resigned from his position. Evidence refuting that claim emerged the next day.

On Friday morning, the last day for potential Ontario PC leadership candidates to enter the leadership race, interim leader Vic Fedeli said in a statement he had removed Brown from the Ontario PC caucus.

Later that afternoon came reports that Brown plans to run for the leadership position.

Here’s what some politicians in Ontario are saying about the reports: