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No foreign interference in Conservative Leadership poll: Patrick Brown
He clarified that no representatives from the Indian government contacted him or his campaign during the leadership race.
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Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown / X/@patrickbrownont
Mayor of Brampton and one of the candidates in the 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, Patrick Brown, appeared before the parliamentary committee probing the alleged charge of foreign (read Indian) interference in Canadian politics, denying there was any such interference in the election.
An earlier report from a national security committee had hinted at possible Indian involvement in influencing the leadership campaign.
Incumbent Leader of the official Opposition Pierre Poilievre had won that race by garnering 68 percent of the first vote.
However, in his testimony on Dec. 5, Brown said: “I don’t believe foreign intervention affected the outcome of the Conservative leadership race.”
He also clarified that no representatives from the Indian government contacted him or his campaign during the leadership race.
Despite the claims of foreign interference, Brown maintained that his campaign faced no external pressures.
When the Committee asked him early this week to give his testimony as he was a part of the leadership race, Patrick Brown took to social media to comment on the committee’s summons.
He maintained that he had no new evidence to contribute to the inquiry and reiterated that the ongoing public inquiry into foreign interference was the appropriate venue for addressing such allegations.
The public inquiry concluded its hearings earlier this fall and is expected to release a final report in the coming months. Brown, however, was not called as a witness during the inquiry.
Intriguingly, Patrick Brown’s leadership bid in 2022 was marred by allegations related to campaign financing, which led to his disqualification from the race under the Canada Elections Act. The Election Commission decided early this year not to continue with its investigation against Patrick Brown.
He, however, continues to advocate for impartial investigations and transparency into the issue as it was both sensitive and important, holding that Canada’s political processes must remain free from external influence.
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