Kevin O鈥橪eary is crediting MPP Patrick Brown with generating excitement about the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership race, although he鈥檚 also 鈥済lad鈥� that the former party leader has dropped out of the running for his old job.
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy he鈥檚 gone,鈥� O鈥橪eary, chairman of the O鈥橪eary Financial Group and a former federal Conservative leadership candidate, told CTV News Channel. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 like the way he went 鈥� that didn鈥檛 seem fair to me 鈥� but I never agreed with his policies,鈥� O鈥橪eary said. He pointed to Brown鈥檚 pro-carbon tax stance as one policy he finds particularly unfavourable.
Brown withdrew his bid for Ontario PC leadership on Monday, saying that he wants to 鈥渇ocus on policy,鈥� and focus on clearing his name.
Brown initially stepped down as party leader in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations levelled against him by two women, as reported by CTV News on Jan. 24. The 39-year-old has been facing other allegations including financial mismanagement and questions over inflated party numbers. He is currently sitting as an independent MPP for Simcoe North, and has vigorously denied these allegations.
O鈥橪eary lamented the circumstances around Brown鈥檚 departure, but also credited Brown with generating more excitement than he saw during his own bid for federal Conservative leadership.
鈥淧eople are watching because he鈥檚 brought that in,鈥� O鈥橪eary said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just thrilled that we鈥檝e got an engaging contest going on in Ontario.鈥�
O鈥橪eary praised the brief format of the PC leadership race, saying that it allows voters to see what each candidate is like under pressure.
鈥淵ou start to understand how they鈥檙e going to act as leaders,鈥� he said.
With only four candidates in the running now, O鈥橪eary said there was plenty of room for solid policy discussion at Wednesday night鈥檚 leadership debate. He hailed Doug Ford and Christine Elliott for their strong performances at the debate, adding that Carolyn Mulroney was a clear No. 3, followed by Tanya Grace Allen.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 feel that Mulroney was on her best last night,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he is an eloquent speaker, but I didn鈥檛 see it last night.鈥�
The businessman said he sees the PC Party 鈥渨aking up鈥� in Ontario, and is predicting whoever wins will have a strong shot at unseating Kathleen Wynne.
