Patrick Brown thanks over 40,000 Ontarians who've joined his PC Party of Ontario leadership campaign

Brown half way to fulfilling his pledge to build 100,000 member Party

BRAMPTON, ON, Feb. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Today, Patrick Brown  M.P. thanked the tens of thousands of Ontarians who have signed up to support his campaign to become the next Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

"As of this evening, we have submitted 40,410 memberships from every riding across the province to Party headquarters," said Brown.

At 5:00 PM today, the membership cut-off deadline to be eligible to vote in the leadership election, the Patrick Brown Leadership Campaign had submitted 40,410 new membership forms to PC Party officials. With approximately 10,000 pre-existing Party members at the beginning of the campaign period, the Brown campaign has increased the size of the PC Party by over 500 per cent.

"First and foremost, I want to say thank you," said Brown.  "To the tens of thousands of Ontarians who bought a membership from our campaign, to the hundreds of volunteers who sold them and helped out each and every day, and to everyone who has donated money and services to our cause, I thank you."

"It has been an incredible journey so far, and it's not over yet," said Brown.  "We're just half way there.  Tomorrow, we begin the task of ensuring every member of the PC Party, whether we recruited them or not, understands our vision of a bigger, broader and winning Party and feels comfortable on our team.  We want their votes too on May 3^rd."

Since kicking off his campaign on November 20, 2014, Brown has met thousands of people from every riding in the province.  This diverse group of Ontarians is united by a common commitment to building a better future for Ontario and a belief that the province needs a political Party that will give them a voice at Queen's Park and bring sound, honest government back to Ontario.

"The PC Party of Ontario will be the party that represents honest, hard-working Ontarians across the province," said Brown.  "Our Party needs a re-set.  It needs to grow to 100,000 members from every walk of life and every corner of the province, in order to represent the interests, concerns and ambitions of Ontarians everywhere.  I am committed to reaching that goal and, with their backing, of leading the Party to victory in the next provincial election."

On Nov, 24, 2014 Brown pledged to grow the PC Party of Ontario to 100,000 members within the next four years.  Tonight, just three months later, Brown is already half way to that goal.

"I also want to congratulate Christine and Monte for bringing thousands of new members to our Party as well," said Brown.  "Growth is the key to our future success.  Between all the leadership campaigns, we've together already increased the Party sevenfold since last Fall.  That process must not stop today.  I will continue working to bring new members from every walk of life, every corner of the province and every cultural group into the PC Party of Ontario and I encourage Christine and Monte to do the same."

PC Party members who have signed up by today will be eligible to vote for the next Party Leader on May 3.

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]