2018 Ontario Provincial Election Discussion

[TheTigerMaster]

This is just the first shoe to drop. More to come. This will be an at least 6 month trial in the court of public opinion. There are 4 months left until the election. I don't see any way that the PC's let him remain their candidate.

What procedures are in place for him to be removed as leader?

 

[TheTigerMaster]

I'm going to say two things here.

The first is that funding for the Relief line is widely anticipated by March as that's when the Feds have set as a deadline for round 2 infrastructure funding; after using round 1 to fund the Relief Line to 30% design.

***

The second is, while I know there are political impacts from this, even if those are not fully known as yet; I would ask that everyone refrain from drawing conclusions of 'benefit' at this juncture.

Even were it to end up being provably true, it strikes me as being not in the best of taste on night one.

I cast no aspersions, I understand the impulse.........but...

Not in the best of taste, but you can be sure that in all three parties their making cold political calculations based on this news. That’s realpolitik for you. How long do we pretend that people aren’t thinking about the political implications of this?

 

[denfromoakvillemilton]

and yet again well be stuck with the liberals and snails pace movement on go transit and the drl.

 

[adma]

Now, let's not jump the gun about this being henceforth a Lib vs NDP race. First, I highly doubt that the PCs will be led by [VOID] come campaign time. Second, the bulk of incumbent seats and members can be deemed "safe" in any event--I can't picture a French Socialist-type implosion, at least once this crisis is over and done with. The biggest danger to the PCs, then, would be some Monte McNaughton type becoming leader and relegating the party to rural-rump status...or the even bigger danger to the opposition would be said MMcN type becoming premier, anyway, on time-for-a-change momentum...

 

[TheTigerMaster]

Dont get me wrong i'm not trying to discredit the allegations, what my point was is that one of the accusers went back to work at Brown's office the following summer, a year after the incident. It was not a full-time, permanent continual job. It was a summer job and the incident happened during the summer of Year 1 after which she left. She returned to work at Brown's office in the summer of Year 2 out of her own volition.

Again i'm not trying to discredit the allegations, i'm merely pointing out the facts which the one of accusers pointed out. It's the fact that she returned in Year 2 that's the questionable part.

Breaking into politics is a tough game. Often with sexual misconduct in the workplace, women have to decide between crippling their careers, or continuing to work with their abusers. More often than not, it’s the latter. It’s a terrible decision nobody should have to make, but that’s the reality of our world.

Being able to leave the workplace due to abuse, without crippling your career, is typically a luxury afforded only to men.

 

[Towered]

Wow. The PC's were already struggling in the polls. Couldn't get much worse for them. First, the failure of the "people's guarantee", and now this.

You almost have to wonder if the outing was engineered from within. Brown pissed off a lot of the more hardcore, reactionary members of the party, who no doubt will be elated to get rid of such a "traitor".

Either way, I'm selfishly happy to see this implosion.

 

[Amare]

For the same reasons actresses continued to work with Harvey Weinstein and actors with Kevin Spacey.

These are completely different circumstances. Weinstein used various sickening tactics to make women return to him: Death threats, non-disclosure agreements, blacklisting, hard clad contracts, threats of lawsuits, etc. Spacey's cases are just a complete spider web which are difficult to untangle and each one needs to be taken separately due to the sickening nature.

Breaking into politics is a tough game. Often with sexual misconduct in the workplace, women have to decide between crippling their careers, or continuing to work with their abusers. More often than not, it’s the latter. It’s a terrible decision nobody should have to make, but that’s the reality of our world.

Being able to leave the workplace due to abuse, without crippling your career, is typically a luxury afforded only to men.

There's no doubt about that, and it would be very unfortunate if this particular accuser had to undergo this exact same thing. We'll have to see what happens with the investigation to find out.

All in all, the PCs are finished regardless of if they are able to oust Brown, and who they replace him with. There's simply not enough time to get the replacement leader familiar to Ontarians. Brown has already put the party platform out and if anyone contradicts with that, voters will be able to see through the replacement leader's lying teeth.

 

[TheTigerMaster]

I’ve never believed Patrick Brown was a good choice for leadership, and despite the polling numbers, I’ve maintaned that odds were that the Liberals would win re-election. I have various reasons for believing this, but primarily because Brown is (was) a hardline social conservative, which is something that Ontario voters were unlikely to ever accept. Ontario voters want a “small-L” liberal government without the corruption (something we see reflected the PCs platform), and Brown couldn’t provide that with his socially conservative views.

The PCs will replace Brown, and soon after these allegations will no longer be associated with the party in the eyes of voters. Party officials are already distancing themselves from Brown en-masse, which is the smartest thing they could do. Nobody will be able to accuse the PCs of sticking by an accused sexual abuser.

If the party picks a new leader that is genuinely more socially liberal than Brown was, this could be bad news for the Liberals.

But are the PCs capable of making such a practical decision? Maybe. From what I’m reading on Twitter, the PC caucus will have to select a new leader, rather than PC party members. The PC caucus is made
of people who live and breathe politics, and they should be capable of making a calculated and strategic decision that will enhance their chances of electoral victory.

It’s also totally possible that they’ll pick someone that couldn’t campaign themselves out of a wet paper bag. Who know. I just wouldn’t be so bullish on the predictions of this being of big benefit to the Liberals.

 

[Northern Light]

The PC's Lisa MacCleod has issued a statement:

"Every citizen of Ontario deserves respect. Everyone has the right to be free from unwelcome behavior or advances. I do not, and will not tolerate abuse or harassment and I will do everything in my power to fight against it. My heart goes out to the women impacted by this behavior. It takes courage to come forward and make these claims. These women deserve our support and thanks."

https://twitter.com/MacLeodLisa/status/956374199794372609

 

[44 North]

I've thought for awhile that if Patrick Brown were to falter, it'd be because of his speech impediment (a stutter). Wiki doesn't say anything about his personal life, but am actually surprised he isn't married with at least one kid. Also that he'd become a party leader without that attribute. Surely making a bachelor a party leader would raise some eyebrows.

Maybe wrong, but I don't see this as stepping down/resigning territory. Nothing seems illegal. Perhaps *immoral* to some degree. But is this really as bad as some are saying?

 

[Northern Light]

Not in the best of taste, but you can be sure that in all three parties their making cold political calculations based on this news. That’s realpolitik for you. How long do we pretend that people aren’t thinking about the political implications of this?

Perhaps I was hoping for tomorrow.........

 

[Towered]

I've thought for awhile that if Patrick Brown were to falter, it'd be because of his speech impediment (a stutter). Wiki doesn't say anything about his personal life, but am actually surprised he isn't married with at least one kid. Also that he'd become a party leader without that attribute. Surely making a bachelor a party leader would raise some eyebrows.

Maybe wrong, but I don't see this as stepping down/resigning territory. Nothing seems illegal. Perhaps *immoral* to some degree. But is this really as bad as some are saying?

I wonder if he's a classic self-hating closet case.

 

[syn]

Apparently he's drafting his resignation letter and will resign later today.

https://twitter.com/LeslieStojsic/status/956398356787380226

 

[44 North]

I wonder if he's a classic self-hating closet case.

perhaps lol. I remember a photo of him when he was a teenager that had some vibes. Hold on. Okay here it is:

 

[MetroMan]

Patrick Brown is out. I wonder if the intense coverage of a leadership selection is going to benefit the PC candidate. At this point, it has got to be a woman. The PCs must be smart enough to know that right? If so, we’re about to have an all female candidates election. That’s a first.