Ford and MPPs to steer clear of federal Conservative leadership endorsements

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says neither he nor his Progressive Conservative caucus members will be endorsing anyone for the leadership of the federal Conservative party.

When asked about it Tuesday at an unrelated announcement in Brampton, Ont., Ford said both he and the people in his caucus have their hands full supporting the people of Ontario.

One of the candidates for the Conservative leadership is Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who was the leader of the Progressive Conservatives before Ford.

Several of the people in Ford's caucus were serving members of provincial parliament at the time of Brown's leadership, but the majority had supported current Health Minister Christine Elliott for the top job, and did not stand by him when scandal ended his time as party leader.

Sexual misconduct allegations, which Brown denies, were published months before the 2018 election by CTV, which recently resolved a defamation suit Brown launched over the story.

Another leadership candidate is Roman Baber, who has been an independent member of the Ontario legislature since January 2021, when Ford kicked him out of the Progressive Conservative caucus after Baber voiced his opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns.