Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, Ont., joins race to lead federal ConservativesBRAMPTON, ONT. -- Patrick Brown has officially joined the race to lead the federal Conservatives, with a promise to heal the fractures that have erupted in the party over recent years.
Brown, 43, launched his campaign in Brampton, Ont., where he has served as mayor since 2018.
He walked on stage at the Queen's Manor Event Centre with his wife, Genevieve, and their two children Sunday as the crowd chanted his name.
Brown's speech pitched a campaign that offers a greater voice for caucus members and a bigger Conservative tent.
"I want people who have never voted Conservative, and voted for other parties to feel welcome in our family," Brown told the crowd Sunday.
Brown, known within the party as a hardworking organizer, is the fifth candidate to enter the Conservative leadership race, already populated by former federal Progressive Conservative leader Jean Charest and Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre. Rookie Ontario MP Leslyn Lewis and Independent Ontario MPP Roman Baber are also running.
Brown's political roots run deep in Brampton, and it's a part of the country where Conservatives know they need to grow their support if they hope to form government.
He promised to do that without sacrificing seats in western or rural Canada, and suggested the party needs to stop treating Conservative members in the west "like an ATM and start delivering election victories."...........
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/patrick-brown-mayor-of-brampton-ont-joins-race-to-lead-federal-conservatives-1.5817416
