Patrick Brown thanks his thousands of supporters who've joined his journey

BRAMPTON, ON, May 7, 2015 /CNW/ - The Patrick Brown Leadership Campaign today thanked its thousands of volunteers and supporters for their extraordinary efforts recruiting new members to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and getting thousands of them out to the polls during this key leadership election.  Intra-day tracking reports from campaign volunteers at polls across the province, suggest Patrick Brown supporters have come out to vote in numbers even larger than they did on May 3^rd.

"This has been a long, intense campaign, and everywhere I've gone in Ontario, I've been surrounded by enthusiastic, energetic volunteers and supporters," said Patrick Brown. "I am so grateful for each and every one of you who's joined me on this journey.  It's the most humbling experience of my life, to know that there are so many people who share our common cause, who are willing to give their time and energy to help us re-set our Party.  Thank you."

The final votes are being cast and the counting is set to begin.  The campaign, one of the longest in recent memory, has been competitive and the candidates have been well-tested.  The Party today is over seven times larger than it was five months ago and stretches from remote northern communities into dense urban neighborhoods in the heart of Toronto; from predominantly union-organized hard-working private sector workers of Windsor to the tireless public sector office workers of Ottawa; from newest of Canadians to the oldest francophone families in Upper Canada.

"On Saturday, we will know who the next leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario is," said Patrick Brown. "Whether it's me, or Christine, it will be a time of celebration.  It will mark the conclusion of another hard-fought democratic process of the type our Party is known for.  We do not have coronations in the PC Party.  We test our leaders.  We examine them.  Then, we cast our ballots and rally behind the winners."

Beginning Saturday evening, a larger, more diverse, bolder and energized PC Party of Ontario will join together, celebrate its new leader, and begin the process of reconnecting with Ontario while together we build the province's next government. And, there is little doubt that the next government of Ontario will be a Progressive Conservative government.

About Patrick Brown
Patrick Brown has been elected three times as Conservative Member of Parliament for Barrie.  Patrick's work with new Canadian communities in the GTA and 20-years' experience in the Conservative movement make him uniquely able to build the broad, winning coalition the PC Party of Ontario needs to win. For more information, please visit: www.VotePatrickBrown.ca   

SOURCE Patrick Brown for the Win

Tamara Macgregor, Director of Communications, Tel: [phone], [email protected]