(Ottawa) Two federal MPs from Ontario switch allegiance in the race for the Conservative leadership: citing the need to unify a divided party, they withdraw their support for Patrick Brown in favor of Pierre Poilievre instead.
Posted at 2:48 p.m.
The Member of Parliament for Flamborough-Glanbrook, Dan Muys, and his colleague from Dufferin-Caledon, Kyle Seeback, gave their support last March to the campaign of Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, Ontario.
Both MPs now believe that it is Mr. Poilievre who can best reunite the Conservative Party of Canada.
Photo Adrian Wyld, archives The Canadian Press
Kyle Seeback
Mr. Brown already enjoyed less support within the caucus than most of his opponents. Tuesday’s change of allegiance means he can now only count on the support of two federal MPs.
Conservative Party unity is a growing concern for activists in this leadership race, which has exposed the fractures within the Canadian right from the outset. These fault lines have only deepened as the rhetoric of different camps has become less forgiving.
Several candidates have argued that they should win the leadership because they are the ones who can then unify the party once the race is over and then defeat the Liberals in the next election.