Patrick Brown announces plans to seek re-election as Brampton Mayor

BY PAUL JUNOR

There were many questions with respect to whether or not Patrick Brown would seek re-election as Mayor of Brampton for a second term. These questions were answered on Monday, July 18^th, 2022, when he made the announcement at Brampton City Hall that he would be running for mayor. He submitted his candidacy papers at the city clerk’s office. He told the crowd, “It has been the greatest privilege to serve the city over the past four years and I am looking forward to the next four years.”

There have been speculations about the fate of Patrick Brown after he was booted from the Conservative leadership race at the beginning of July. The Conservative Party of Canada’s leadership election organizing committee disqualified him after they became aware of allegations of wrongdoing. It was alleged that individuals who were part of Brown’s campaign flouted financing rules in the Canada Elections Act.

In a statement from Ian Brodie, Chair of the committee he notes, “The information provided to date by the Patrick Brown campaign did not satisfy concerns about their compliance with our Rules and Procedures and/or the Canada Elections Act. The Chief Returning Officer has therefore recommended to LEOC that LEOC disqualify Patrick Brown, and earlier tonight LEOC agreed to do so.”

Brown has refuted the allegations of wrongdoing and has decided to appeal the decision. He states, “Unfortunately the Conservative Party did not want to have a free and fair election. We’re pursuing legal options to make sure what was done is exposed.” Brown believes that the party wanted to thwart his leadership attempt and fabricated the allegations against him. He states, “There was a reason (to remove me) that was manufactured.”

It will not be an easy ride for Mayor Brown in his mayoral bid. About half of Brampton City Council opposed them. Many councillors who tried to jump the gun by appointing a replacement for Councillor Williams who was recently elected as MPP for Brampton Centre were found to have flouted the Municipal Act.

Mayor Brown is happy with the ruling and argues that his enemies were attempting to take control of Brampton while he was involved in the thwarted leadership bid. Furthermore, some councillors have asked the RCMP to learn more about the consequences of Brown’s decisions with respect to its financial implications given that there are currently several on-going audits. Mayor Brown affirms that his present priority is to be an advocate for the citizens of Brampton and not seek to re-enter the Conservative leadership race. He states, “I will be loud and I will be heard to make sure Brampton residents are never short changed.”

There are many other plans that Mayor Brown would like to fulfil if he is re-elected as Mayor in October 2022.