Dunlop's Exit Shows There's No Room for Moderates in Brown's PCs

Dunlop on Brown: "He'd be the last guy I'd choose"

QUEEN'S PARK, July 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Garfield Dunlop's sudden exit from Queen's Park shows that there's no room left for moderates in Patrick Brown's extreme-right PC Party.

"Garfield Dunlop was comfortable serving with Mike Harris and Tim Hudak, but it's clear that Patrick Brown's extreme right-wing ideology was a step too far," said Liberal MPP Deb Matthews.  "There are a lot of so-called red Tories and moderates who had hoped the PC Party would go in a different direction, away from the radical right-wing, but Garfield Dunlop's resignation proves that didn't happen.  There's no room left for progressive moderates in Brown's PC Party."

• Dunlop spoke out against Brown's opposition to the new sex-ed curriculum:

"Barrie MP Patrick Brown is opposed to the curriculum changes…. The new sex-education curriculum introduced Monday by the Ontario Liberals has found an unlikely advocate in Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop.  "These changes are something that is necessary for the safety and public health of our children," Dunlop said.  (Innisfil Journal, March 10, 2015)

"My worry is you don't want to become the party of the guys playing banjos on a bridge" (Garfield Dunlop, Toronto Sun, February 26, 2015)

• Dunlop called Brown unqualified to be Leader:

"First of all, he knows nothing about provincial politics," Dunlop said. "He'd be the last guy I'd choose.  I don't know what he's done for the provincial party ever to make him qualified to have anything to offer," Dunlop said of Brown.  "He's a federal member who's made no headway whatsoever in the Harper Government in the eight or nine years he's been there. How could I possibly think he could come to Ontario and do a good job when he couldn't even make cabinet in Ottawa?"  (Barrie Examiner, September 28, 2014)

• Dunlop pleaded with the PCs to avoid Brown and move to the centre:

"I think the party will go more to the centre," he said, adding he hopes the party also opts to elect its first-ever female leader from among hopefuls Christine Elliott and Lisa MacLeod." (Orillia Packet and Times, December 12, 2014)

• Patrick Brown voted against same-sex marriage, was elected with the strong backing of the Campaign Life Coalition, and supported Hudak's 100,000 job cuts.

"Make no mistake, Garfield Dunlop isn't stepping aside to make room for Patrick Brown, he's quitting because the PC Party under Patrick Brown is too radical, too out of touch, and badly divided," said Matthews.   

"I want to thank Garfield Dunlop for his contribution and service for 16 years in the legislature," said Matthews.  "Garfield was a leader in his caucus, a real progressive and a thoughtful voice for inclusion.  He vocally supported anti-bullying initiatives for students, Day of Pink, and acceptance in schools.  This is a big loss for Patrick Brown."

"Bill Davis moderates like Garfield have helped build Ontario into the great province it is today, it's just unfortunate we're seeing fewer and fewer of them under Patrick Brown," concluded Matthews.

SOURCE Liberal Caucus Service Bureau

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