Patrick Brown Dismisses Claims of Foreign Interference in Conservative Leadership Race
"I don't believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race," Brown told committee members on Thursday.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has firmly stated that foreign interference did not play a role in the outcome of the Conservative Party’s 2022 leadership race, which saw Pierre Poilievre elected as leader. Brown, who was one of the candidates in the contest, made these comments during a recent appearance before a House of Commons committee.
The committee had convened to investigate allegations of foreign interference in Canadian politics, with a particular focus on the 2022 Conservative leadership race. A report from a national security committee had hinted at possible Indian involvement in influencing the leadership campaign. However, Brown, addressing these concerns, firmly rejected the idea that foreign meddling impacted the final results of the race.
“I don’t believe foreign intervention affected the final outcome of the Conservative leadership race,” Brown stated in his testimony on Thursday. He acknowledged the importance of protecting Canadian elections from foreign influence but stressed that he did not want to be dragged into partisan disputes in Parliament.
Earlier this week, Brown took to social media to comment on the committee’s summons. He clarified 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.
Brown 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.
The public inquiry into foreign interference, which concluded its hearings earlier this fall, is expected to release a final report in the coming months. Brown, however, was not called as a witness during the inquiry.
It is worth noting that 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.
As the investigation into foreign influence continues, Brown remains steadfast in his belief that Canada’s political processes must remain free from external influence, but he continues to advocate for impartial investigations and transparency.