Ross Romano supports Patrick Brown’s ‘fighting spirit’ (Update: Romano statement added)

Sault Ste. Marie MPP Ross Romano is standing by Patrick Brown, his longtime personal and political friend.

Romano has stated, in a Tweet, “(Patrick Brown) has continually demonstrated his commitment to the people of Northern Ontario. Together we will ensure prosperity for the North. He got knocked down but he got back up again. His fighting spirit is exactly what this province needs to defeat Kathleen Wynne!”

Romano was not immediately available for comment.

The Romano Tweet comes after Brown, who resigned as Ontario’s Progressive Conservative party leader Jan. 25 amid allegations of sexual misconduct dating back to his time as a federal Conservative MP, filed late Friday afternoon to be a candidate in the Progressive Conservative leadership campaign.

Brown has denied all sexual misconduct allegations and has stated his intention to clear his name (also announcing his intention to sue CTV over the allegations), and is now running to reclaim his job as PC leader.

Brown and Romano are longtime friends, with Brown visiting the Sault often to support Romano before and during the 2017 provincial byelection campaign, which ultimately saw Romano become the first provincial Tory to win the Sault riding since 1981. 

It won’t be an easy climb back up the ladder for Brown, as interim Progressive Conservative leader Vic Fedeli stated Friday that Brown, Simcoe North MPP, has been kicked out of the PC caucus.

Four other candidates are running for the PC leadership, including Christine Elliot, former MPP and PC Deputy Leader, Doug Ford, former Toronto city councillor, Tanya Granic Allen, a businesswoman, writer, commentator and conservative family values advocate, and Caroline Mulroney, businesswoman and lawyer. 

The Progressive Conservative party will select a leader March 10.

The next provincial election is scheduled to be held on or before June 7, 2018.

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Statement by Ross Romano

On Feb. 16, I along with others candidates throughout the northern region of our province have pledged our support to Patrick Brown in his bid for the leadership of the Ontario PC party. The reason for that is simple: Patrick Brown is the only candidate who can deliver the results we need in northern Ontario.

Patrick Brown has demonstrated his commitment to the north by visiting communities across our region over 30 times since he first became leader. 

In order to better understand the challenges we face each and every day, Patrick led a yearly winter driving tour through Northern Ontario. He routinely engaged with northern communities and stakeholders during his thorough policy consultation process in order to ensure future policies would address a number of specific issues in our region. This process resulted in our party’s platform, The People’s Guarantee.

Yesterday, following extensive discussions with our group, Mr. Brown made a historic commitment to the people of northern Ontario that proves to us how passionate he is about improving economic and community development in the north. 

In addition to promises made under his original platform, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) will see an immediate increase in funding from its current 100 to 200 million dollars. 

Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, he will remove the 5 million dollars spending cap that is currently in place on applications to the fund. Lastly, an amount of 25 million dollars will be reserved for community development projects in remote communities, with a special focus on improving socioeconomic and infrastructure challenges within them.

The 100 per cent increase to the fund will be an incredible win for the people of our region. The potential this will create is both real and significant. 

Patrick has recognized the challenges that a cap on applications creates on spurring meaningful economic development projects in the North. Removing the cap on applications will generate much broader and greater interest throughout large scale employment generating industries that will create meaningful change. In addition, this commitment addresses the fact that community development is currently not within the NOHFC mandate. 

Dedicating a portion of the fund to these types of initiatives will ensure that communities in the north, such as those First Nation communities impacted by the Ring of Fire consultation process, can have the ability to access essential services as well as many other potential investment opportunities. Patrick Brown has a proven through his actions that he has a genuine interest in improving the living conditions, affordability and economic development for all of us living in northern Ontario. 

This investment and restructuring of NOHFC funding, along with the pre-existing commitments within the People’s Guarantee are the keys to ensuring that we can all realize that goal. 

Under his continued leadership, Patrick Brown will deliver meaningful and lasting change in northern Ontario. His vision and passion for Northern Ontario will allow us to make the most of our economic opportunities and invest in our region more than ever before. This is the kind of leadership and action the North, and all of Ontario deserves.

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