New PC leader Brown debuts at Queen’s Park

[projekktor id=’18935′]

Patrick Brown, the new leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives, has made his first speech at Queen’s Park.

Brown won the party’s leadership over Christine Elliott on Saturday by more than a thousand electoral points. The MP for Barrie since 2006 sold 41,000 party memberships, most of them to new Canadians.

Today he spoke after a historic address in the legislature by Quebec premier Phillippe Couillard. “It is a real privilege on behalf of my caucus colleagues to welcome premier Couillard, and respond to his speech in what is really my first official speech as leader of the PC party of Ontario.”

Brown took centre stage dressed in a blue tie and holding a blue binder. He enjoyed a warm welcome at the top of his inaugural speech, and praised Couillard’s fiscal responsibility.

“Since you came to office, you have made the attainment of a balanced budget a priority. You are taking steps to ensure the long-term financial health of your province and are committing to keeping your budget balanced. As you can tell this is music to my ears and certainly to the ears of my colleagues.”

Brown also praised Quebec’s low hydro rates and their ability to attract businesses to the province. As for Couillard, his speech this morning was the first by a Quebec premier in Ontario’s legislature in more than 50 years.

He spoke both in french and english about the joint “cap and trade” system to combat greenhouse gas emissions. “Premier Wynne’s intent to join the cap & trade system of the western climate initiative is indeed excellent news.”

“Together with California our association will create the largest carbon market in North America, and we will continue to build relationships with other partners & we have good reason to hope that others will follow suit.”

He also said Ontario and Quebec are natural allies and an economic force to be reckoned with.

“Our combined GDP is over a trillion dollars & the Quebec-Ontario economic zone is the fourth largest in North America after California, Texas & New York.”

Later premier Kathleen Wynne and NDP leader Andrew Horwath rose during Question Period this morning to congratulate Brown on his victory. Brown will resign his federal seat this week and look next to win a provincial seat, but it’s not yet clear how soon that may happen. The Premier has six months to call a byelection.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story had the incorrect video attached. This has been corrected.