PC leadership hopefuls slam Patrick Brown's move to join race for top job

The candidates running fortheOntarioProgressive Conservative leadershipissued statements Friday criticizing Patrick Brown's move to join therace after he was forced to step down due to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Brown registeredjust before the sign-updeadline at 5 p.m. on Friday, and the reaction from the other contenders was sharp and swift, with two of them saying his candidacy is an unwelcome diversion from their ultimate goal of battling Kathleen Wynne in the June 7 provincial election.

Brown's move 'a distraction,' Mulroney says

Toronto lawyer and businesswomanCaroline Mulroney called Brown's move a "distraction" in a tweet Friday afternoon.

PCs 'objectively stronger' without Brown, Ford says

Doug Ford'sstatement slammed the former PC leader directly saying the party is"objectively stronger without PatrickBrown."

He echoed Mulroney's position, also calling Brown's move a "distraction."

'Now is a time for unity,' Elliott says

Former MPP Christine Elliott, who lost to Brown in the last leadership race, released a statement saying "with fewer than 100 days, now is a time for unity. I am the leader that can unite the party and beat Kathleen Wynne."

Elliottmade an appearance onCBC'sPower and PoliticsFriday, saying she believes voters will look past the apparent disarray in the party.

Brown should be 'held to account for his political crimes'

Meantime, Tanya GranicAllen hasn'tcommentedherself but herconservative activist organizationParents As First Educators released a statement to its members.

"Tanya believes Patrick shouldn't be allowed as a candidate for MPP.But for leader? She welcomes him, because finally, he will be held to account for his political crimes.And she is the only one in the leadership race who is holding him to account," the letter reads.

Brown's bombshellcame just hours after theparty's interim leader Vic Fedeli announcedthat the former leaderhad beenkicked out of the PCcaucus, raising questions about whether he can run for the leadership.

Party president Jag Badwalreleaseda statement saying only,"Mr. Brown's application will follow the same due process in the same manner as the other four declared candidates."

Elections Ontario haslisted Brown as one of fivecandidates vying for the party's top post just a few months ahead of the provincial election.

In the first leadership debate, held Thursday night, the four other candidates were askedif they would allow Brown to run for their party in wake ofthe allegations against him by two women accusations he has strenuously denied.

Both Elliott and Mulroney said they would allow itif theallegations are proven false.

"If he can clear his name, then he can run," Mulroney said.

Ford said he wants to get the facts and sit down with Brown before making a decision. "I'm not going to litigate this in front of the media," he said.

But political newcomerTanyaGranicAllen came down hard on Brown.

She says he shouldn't be allowed to run, not because of his alleged misconduct, but due to what she called the corrupt way he handled the party.

PC members will cast their vote for their next leaderelectronically between March 2 and March 8, and the results will be announced March 10.