Patrick Brown’s former campaign regional organizer has revealed that the Brown campaign was allegedly illegally paying her through a corporation.
Debbie Jodoin, a long-time supporter of Brown’s, began working for the Brown campaign as a regional organizer in May, but claims she parted ways with the campaign on June 3 over concerns that the campaign was violating the Canada Elections Act.
Jodoin alleges that Brown told her there was nothing wrong with a corporation paying her as a consultant while working on the campaign. Corporations contributing to leadership campaigns are forbidden.
“A corporation paid me and paid for my expenses, not the Brown campaign,” reads the statement released by Jodoin’s lawyer Jason Beitchman.
“Mr. Brown told me that it was permissible for me to be employed by a company as a consultant, and then for that company to have me volunteer with the campaign.”
On Tuesday, the Conservative Party’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) disqualified Brown for alleged violations of financial provisions of the Canada Election Act, as well as the rules of the leadership race.
“The information provided to date by the Patrick Brown campaign did not satisfy concerns about their compliance with our Rules and Procedures and/or the Canada Elections Act,” said LEOC chair Ian Brodie.
“The Chief Returning Officer has therefore recommended to LEOC that LEOC disqualify Patrick Brown and earlier tonight LEOC agreed to do so.”
In a statement, Brown’s campaign alleges that there was a lack of transparency in the party’s decision to disqualify the Brampton mayor.
The campaign claims the party’s decision was “based on anonymous allegations” and that the campaign was “never provided with the full details or evidence” of the allegations.
Brown has also accused the Pierre Poilievre campaign of being responsible for his ejection from the race, saying that Poilievre’s campaign brought forward the allegations against Brown and that LEOC consists of Poilievre supporters.
However, Jodoin says she came forward with the allegation of her own accord — without any coercion.
“Ms. Jodoin expressly rejects any suggestion that she was coerced or pressured by others to come forward and did so of her own volition,” says Beitchman’s statement on Jodoin’s behalf.
In June, the Brown campaign began to drop support from MPs who have previously supported him, as well as losing campaign staff.
On June 7, Brown lost the endorsements of both Dufferin—Caledon MP Kyle Seeback and Flamborough—Glanbrook MP Dan Muys, switching their support to the Poilievre campaign.
A week later, Calgary Nose-Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner quit her role as national co-chair of Brown’s campaign to mull a bid for the leadership of Alberta’s United Conservative Party, a role she decided not to pursue.
