Hamilton PC candidates say they're undeterred by Patrick Brown's resignation
Brown says the allegations are false, but local candidates and rivals felt he needed to resign
Hamilton's Ontario PC candidates say they're just going to keep moving forward after leader Patrick Brown resigned amid sexual misconduct allegations.
Ben Levitt and Donna Skelly say they'll campaign as usual after the Brown bombshell Wednesday one that MPP Ted McMeekincalled "not a fun time for anyone."
"I can tell you that my campaign in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas continues full speed today," said Levitt, a rookie candidate who was among the first to call for Brown's leadership resignation Wednesday.
The party, Levitt tweeted early Thursday morning, "cannot tolerate harassment or abuse. We must stand with and support these women."
Donna Skelly, Flamborough-Glanbrook candidate, said she was "shocked and disappointed."
She said she's heard from constituents that are still "behind me and our party."
Given the serious allegations raised this evening, I believe Patrick Brown should step down as leader of the Ontario PC Party. We cannot tolerate harassment or abuse. We must stand with and support these women. #pcpo #onpoli
—@BenLevitt2018Brown resigned as leader hours after a CTV News story broke that included two women alleging sexual misconduct. The allegations date back to when Brown was a federal MP in Barrie.
Brown has denied the allegations, CBChas spoken to one of the women about her allegations
Brown's voice shook during an apparently hurried Wednesday evening press conference, shortly before the CTV story went to air. He looked rattled during his roughly one-minute statement.
"I want to say: These allegations are false. Every one of them," Brown said while standing alone at a podium at Queen's Park. "I will defend myself as hard as I can, with all the means at my disposal.
"I know that the court of public opinion moves fast. I have instructed my attorneys to ensure that these allegations are addressed where they should be: in a court of law."
Not long after, many of his senior staff resigned, including his chief of staff, campaign chair, deputy campaign chair and press secretary. Some said they did so because Brown hadn't heeded advice to step down.
This represents a shake up just months ahead ofthe June election one where poll numbers have pegged Brown's party as a frontrunner.
Andrea Horwath, Ontario NDP leader and Hamilton Centre MPP, said she's not thinking about what this means for the NDPright now.
"This is not about me and it's not about my campaign," she told reporters. "This is about women coming forward and calling out behaviour they experienced."
Horwath talked about experiencing sexism while working as a server in Hamilton restaurants for 10 years.
"As a woman, these kinds of things happen to you," she said.
McMeekin, a Liberal MPP running in Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas this spring, wouldn't speculate on how it will impact Liberal election hopes either.
"Right now, all the politics is really secondary to trying to come to grips with just how much courage these young women displayed coming forward," he said.
"I don't know what lies ahead. Obviously, the Conservatives will have some decisions to make about the leadership."
McMeekin said he was shocked watching events unfold Wednesday. There was nothing positive about it, he said not for the women, not for the party, not for anyone.
"It's not every day that you have someone of Mr. Brown's stature tumble the way he has," said McMeekin.
"Some people love a Greek tragedy, but that's not a fun time for anybody."
The main message Wednesday, he said, is that "women's voices have been empowered to speak out, and that's good."
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