Saying he’s ‘pragmatic,’ Patrick Brown distancing himself from social conservative base
Patrick Brown appears to be turning his back on the social conservatives who helped him win the PC leadership.
Brown actively wooed anti-abortion activists, opponents of same-sex marriage, and critics of the updated sex-education curriculum during last year’s Progressive Conservative race.
That courtship ensured the support of leadership rival Monte McNaughton, the Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP who dropped out to back him.
But after fallout over his flip-flop on a recent byelection promise to “scrap” the controversial health syllabus, the rookie Tory leader is distancing himself from what was a key part of his political coalition.
In a statement issued late Monday — seven hours after the Toronto Sun published emails he had sent social conservatives last year assuring them he would “repeal” the sex-education curriculum — Brown insisted he is a “pragmatic” politician who has changed his thinking.
“Yes, my views on Ontario’s sexual education curriculum — and similar issues — have evolved,” the PC chief said.
https://www.thestar.com/news/queens...ng-himself-from-social-conservative-base.html