Hours after Patrick Brown was booted from the Ontario Progressive Conservative Caucus, the former party leader has now entered the provincial PC leadership race.
News of Brown's removal from the caucus was made Friday by Interim Leader Vic Fedeli.
“Shortly after becoming interim leader, I asked Patrick Brown to step aside from the PC Caucus. The legislature is set to resume sitting on Tuesday, February 20 following Family Day. Earlier today, Mr. Brown was notified that he has been removed from the PC Caucus effective immediately,” Fedeli said in a statement.
Later on Friday, Brown's name appeared on Elections Ontario website under the other candidates in a last-minute entry to run in the upcoming leadership race.
"Mr. Patrick Brown has submitted his paperwork to run for the leadership of the Ontario PC Party," said Ontario PC Party President Jag Badwal. "Mr. Brown's application will follow the same due process in the same manner as the other four declared candidates."
Brown resigned as Tory leader in late January, hours after CTV News reported that two unnamed women had come forward with “graphic sexual misconduct allegations” against him. The claims date back to when Brown served as a federal MP.
Brown, who vehemently denies the accusations, has been working to clear his name. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Brown accused the two women of lying and announced plans to sue CTV.
The television network said earlier this week that it continues to stand by its story.