Ontario PC leader amid sexual misconduct allegations

[oneh2obabe]

Hours after tearfully vowing to fight “false” allegations of sexual impropriety against him, Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown has resigned.

In a statement early Thursday, Brown said he could not continue as party leader with an election a little more than four months away.

“After consulting with caucus, friends and family I have decided to step down as leader of the Ontario PC Party. I will remain on as a MPP while I definitively clear my name from these false allegations,” he said at 1:25 a.m.

“I’m confident the president of our party and caucus will convene an expedited process to elect my successor who I look forward to working with.”

In a separate statement, Deputy PC Leaders Sylvia Jones and Steve Clark said caucus members agreed Brown had to go.

https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark ... nduct.html

[bob vernon]

Free dental care for seniors.
22% tax cut for the middle class.
The nation's largest investment in mental health.
75% rebate for daycare.

Does this kind of leftist platform sound like the NDP? Or the Ontario Liberals?
No. It was the platform that Patrick Brown was promising to Ontario. What kind of conservatism is that?
Will the party continue down this socialist path with a new leader?

[Gone_Fishin]

How convenient that Trudeau is in Switzerland when this story "broke." Anyone who doesn't see the connection should take Obvious 101 over again.

[Glacier]

It's pretty close to the next election. Maybe they'll chose Bill Vander Scam, who won the leadership of the Socreds in BC in August, and won the election in October of the same year. Or maybe they'll chose Glen Clark who won the NDP leadership in 1996, and won the general election a few weeks later.

[Omnitheo]

How convenient that Trudeau is in Switzerland when this story "broke." Anyone who doesn't see the connection should take Obvious 101 over again.

Ok I’ll bite. What does Trudeau in Switzerland have to do with yet another conservative member’s scandals?

[Omnitheo]

That’s what I thought.

[Merry]

As a woman who has been subjected to sexual harassment in the past, both in the workplace and not in the workplace, I have great sympathy for women who have to put up with this kind of garbage. And I'm happy to see that society is finally beginning to recognize that much of the behaviour men have been exhibiting for years regarding their treatment of women is both unwelcome and unacceptable (and has always been viewed so by women).

However, that said, it's equally unacceptable for society to automatically condemn someone on the basis of allegations alone. Particularly when that someone is a public figure who is on the verge of an upcoming election. Because the potential for someone to make a false or exaggerated allegation for purely political reasons is obvious.

None of us know whether or not the allegations against Mr. Brown are justified and, given the fact that the alleged behaviour happened a long time ago, it's also possible that we're judging it by today's standards rather than the standards that were considered acceptable at the time. Although I would have preferred that much of what took place in this regard in the past had NOT been considered acceptable, I can't deny that it was considered to be so by many. So while I welcome a change in attitude toward such sexist behaviour, I'm not sure we should be seeking retribution from past perpetrators of what used to be considered fairly acceptable practice many years ago.

If someone makes allegations based on more recent behaviour, that can more fairly be judged by today's standards, then we need to take them seriously and investigate. But digging up stuff from the past, that is unacceptable nowadays but was less so back then, is just trouble making, and I have to wonder about these women's motives.

[TreeGuy]

^^^ Very well said Merry! ^^^

[oneh2obabe]

Patrick Brown’s downfall an affront to fairness.

Patrick Brown is a man ruined, on the word of two anonymous complainants whose allegations have been accepted as facts, writes Rosie DiManno.

It’s not a magnifying glass. It’s an ice pick.

The sweeping arc and thrust of sexual misconduct allegations, untested and unchallenged. Uncharged, need one add. Which apparently doesn’t matter a fig in these caustic accusatory times.

Throw in an “alleged” here and there — the media’s doing, not the politicians who rushed to the podium on Thursday — and, hey, all fine. Let’s move on to the instant repudiation, the character evisceration, the career annihilation.

Another brick in the wall for women’s empowerment? Another brick through the window of basic fairness, I’d say, and the fundamental principle of innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Full column
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-co ... rness.html

[d0nb]

A small mercy for Ontarians - at least the accusations were made before he was elected premier.

Perhaps parties could modify a line from old movie wedding ceremonies:

'If anyone knows of any disgusting reason that this candidate should not be chosen, post it on social media right now or forever hold your peace.'

[Veovis]

A small mercy for Ontarians - at least the accusations were made before he was elected premier.

Perhaps parties could modify a line from old movie wedding ceremonies:

'If anyone knows of any disgusting reason that this candidate should not be chosen, post it on social media right now or forever hold your peace.'

What if I posted this post stating that "d0nb made rude suxually explicit comment to me in a PM that was deleted and not provable"

Immediately after the mods banned you with no discussion or rational process....

This is what seems to be happening now. This guy maybe deserves it, but this isn't the process, the PM just had a similar issue on the same grounds of "something was said at some point maybe somewhere"

WTH folks, people are crucified by facebook, not by court now.

It's gross, I just want the actual degenerates to be destroyed, but in the right way, accusation = guilt now....and if the mods edit this it's cause they touched me inappropriately...screenshot and save me castanutters...saaaavvveee me.

[GordonH]

Well, this now opens the door for the former PM's daughter to become Premier of Ontario (first Ontario Conservative Leader)... if that is something She is interested in becoming.

[Veovis]

Well, this now opens the door for the former PM's daughter to become Premier of Ontario (first Ontario Conservative Leader)... if that is something She is interested in becoming.

I will say the timing here looks like some form of political maneuvering which is a perversion just as bad.

[GordonH]

I will say the timing here looks like some form of political maneuvering which is a perversion just as bad.

So when is good time for this type thing to come to light. Before, after or during an election.

[Veovis]

At any time it is legitimate. But as I understand it was anonymous and timed with the current election in a time where accusation is automatic guilt, and many political people are sadly bad enough to pull such a stunt.

More general than specific just wondering I suppose.