Dunlop vacates Simcoe North for Brown

Veteran MPP to resign seat so new Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown can run

By Rob Ferguson Toronto Star
A veteran MPP is stepping down so new Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown can run for a seat in the Ontario legislature — and start earning a paycheque.
Simcoe North Tory Garfield Dunlop, who was highly critical of Brown during the recent PC leadership campaign, said Wednesday he will resign the Orillia-area seat he has held since 1999.
“It’s a very, very difficult decision,” said Dunlop, whose departure will take effect Aug. 1.
The move, in what is considered a safe Conservative seat for Brown, will trigger a byelection which Premier Kathleen Wynne will have six months to call.
Wynne wasn’t saying how fast she would move on that front.
“Stay tuned!” she told reporters before the Dunlop resignation was confirmed.
During the leadership race, Dunlop took a broadside at Brown for having a low profile as the Conservative MP for Barrie in Ottawa.
“He’s a federal member who’s made no headway whatsoever in the Harper government in the eight or nine years he’s been there,” Dunlop said at the time.
“How could I possibly think he could come to Ontario and do a good job when he couldn’t even make cabinet in Ottawa?”
Dunlop’s riding of Simcoe North is adjacent to the Barrie riding Brown represented federally. Brown has said he plans to run in Barrie during the next Ontario election in 2018.
Until he wins a seat, Brown will not be eligible for the annual MPP’s salary of about $116,000 and a top-up as Opposition leader that would boost his annual pay packet to about $180,000.
Brown quit his seat in Parliament after his election as party leader on May 9. Veteran Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson led the party in the legislature during the remainder of the spring session.

Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop stepping down Aug. 1; paves way for Patrick Brown

By Roberta Bell, Orillia Packet & Times

Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop is stepping down on Aug. 1.

The long-serving provincial politician made the announcement Tuesday in his hometown of Coldwater with Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative (PC) party leader Patrick Brown by his side.

“It has been an honour to serve the people of Simcoe North for the past 16 years. But over the past few months, it has become clear to me that Patrick Brown is someone who could do a lot of good work for Ontarians in the Ontario Legislature,” said Dunlop. “I have seen what he has done for the Simcoe County area, and given the chance, I believe he could move mountains to make life better for the people of Simcoe North, and Ontario.”

He advised Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown last week of his intentions to resign his seat to provide an opportunity for Brown to seek the seat in a by-election.

“Garfield Dunlop has been a valuable member of the PC Party for 20 years, and a fixture in Simcoe North for 35 years,” said Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown. “I am humbled that Garfield believes in my ability to represent the people of Simcoe North. I am pleased to announce today that I intend to run in the by-election, and seek the great honour of asking the people of Simcoe North to allow me to represent their interests and their concerns at Queen’s Park.”

Dunlop has also been a key advocate for an effective and sensible education system in Ontario.

“Garfield has proven himself to be a tireless advocate for parents and students and has spent years building strong relationships with members of the education community. That is why I am pleased to announce that I have asked Garfield to take on the volunteer role of Chief Education Advisor to the PC Party of Ontario,” said Brown.

Brown has asked Dunlop to continue to advise the party on matters of public safety and working to enhance relationships with professional associations.

Dunlop, a plumber, was first elected to the legislature as part of the PC government in June 1999.

He served as parliamentary assistant to the minister of education and government house leader from March 2001 until April 2002, when he was appointed parliamentary assistant to the premier.

Since the PCs fell in 2003, Dunlop has served as the chief opposition whip, critic for community safety and correctional services, critic for skilled trades and apprenticeship reform. After the June 2014 election, he was named critic for both education and training, colleges and universities.

Dunlop will stay with the party in a volunteer capacity, providing advice on his most recent portfolios.

Patrick Brown seeking to run in provincial riding of Simcoe North

By JANE TABER The Globe and Mail

Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown is seeking to run in the provincial riding of Simcoe North.

Garfield Dunlop, the opposition education critic, announced Wednesday that he is stepping aside for Mr. Brown’s bid. He has represented the riding since 1999; he won last year’s election with nearly 44 per cent of the vote. His Liberal opponent had 32.5 per cent.

It is primarily a rural riding, which includes small communities such as Orillia, Midland and Penetanguishene.

The 37-year-old Brown was elected in May – but he didn’t have a seat in the provincial legislature. He had served in the House of Commons as the MP for Barrie since 2006.

“I’m so humbled and honoured that Garfield believes in my ability to represent the people of Simcoe North,” said Mr. Brown at the announcement in Coldwater, Ont. He said that Mr. Dunlop offered his seat to him. Mr. Brown’s advisors had said that a number of MPPs had offered their ridings to Mr. Brown – but Mr. Brown’s family has some history in Simcoe County, which he pointed out during the announcement.

Mr. Dunlop had initially supported Ottawa area MPP Lisa MacLeod for the leadership. She dropped out before the May vote.

In his remarks, Mr. Dunlop talked about the demands of politics, including 80-hour work weeks. He said that he and his wife, Jane, bought a cottage on the Severn River in 1991 and since 2000 have slept one night there. He also says he has missed many events involving his grandchildren, such as basketball games and equestrian competitions.

“This is a really difficult decision for me,” he said. But, he added, he is excited about the possibility that the next premier of Ontario could come from Simcoe North.

He mentioned that when Mr. Brown first declared his intention to run – more than a year ago, he said to himself, “Who does this guy think he is coming down from Ottawa?”

But, he said, he was impressed with the fact that he sold more than 40,000 memberships to win the leadership. Although Mr. Brown had the support of only a handful of MPPs – the majority of the PC caucus supported Christine Elliott – he was accepted “immediately.”

Mr. Dunlop will stay on in a voluntary role as consultant to the leader on education matters.

It is not clear yet when a by-election will be called. The Liberals, however, were quick to criticize the PC move on Wednesday.

In a press release, they featured some quotes from Mr. Dunlop in which he was critical of Mr. Brown’s leadership: “He’d be the last guy I’d choose. I don’t know what he’s done for the provincial party ever to make him qualified to have anything to offer,” Dunlop said of Brown.

In the quotes credited to the Barrie Examiner from September, 2014, Dunlop also said of Brown: “He’s a federal member who’s made no headway whatsoever in the Harper Government in the eight or nine years he’s been there. How could I possibly think he could come to Ontario and do a good job when he couldn’t even make cabinet in Ottawa?”