Landowners group backs Patrick Brown for PC leader

OTTAWA — The 5,000-family strong Ontario Landowners Association has thrown its support behind a Progressive Conservative MPP from Barrie to lead the Ontario PC party.

OLA president and crop farmer Tom Black met about 20 members at his Stittsville home, south of Ottawa, and invited MPP Patrick Brown for dinner.

After several hours of questions and answers, Black said the members were ready to support Brown. The PC leadership will be decided by membership vote on May 9.

The OLA has traditionally supported the PC party but Black said the party is broken and has drifted too far into socialism. Decisions are being made by a small group of people, he said. The Progressive Conservative Party “has lost four elections in a row and they won’t listen to the grassroots who elect them.”

Brown “is not connected to the Toronto establishment,” Black said. “He’s independent.”

The OLA supports property rights and fiscal restraint, Black said. “We’re for smaller government. We’re not for slash and burn. But every time there’s a new regulation, the government hires more people. You have to let private industry create jobs and wealth.”