Patrick Brown (politician)
Encyclopedia
Patrick W. Brown is a Canadian
lawyer
and politician
affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada
. In 2006, Brown was elected
to serve in the Canadian parliament
representing the riding of Barrie
. Brown defeated Aileen Carroll
, the incumbent Liberal MP and cabinet minister, in a re-match of the 2004 election in which he had been defeated.
Brown is the Deputy Chairman of the International Young Democrat Union
(IYDU). He has also represented Canada on a number of international assistance projects hosted by the IYDU.
Brown served two terms as President of the Progressive Conservative Youth Federation (PCYF) from 1998 to 2002. He also served on the executive of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
, as a Vice President.
As PCYF President, Brown was one of the early supporters of a united right and drew criticism for his decision to support a united right from party leader Joe Clark
and Member of Parliament
Scott Brison
. Nonetheless, Brown was later re-elected as PCYF president with 81 percent of the vote against Jonathan Frate of Manitoba.
Brown graduated from St. Michael's College School
and then went on to study political science
at the University of Toronto
. He then graduated with a law degree from the University of Windsor
.
During his second year at law school, he was one of 10 recipients of the prestigious As Prime Minister Awards. He also worked for Magna International
in their legal department over a period of four years.
Brown was elected to the city of Barrie
council
in 2000 at age 22, defeating the incumbent councillor. He was re-elected in 2003 with 72 percent of the vote, the largest margin of victory in the city that year.
Brown was re-elected to parliament in the 2008 election
by a large margin, more than double that of the next candidate. He defeated the relatively unknown, newcomer Liberal candidate, Rick Jones, by 15,195 votes. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion
was immediately blamed for a substantially weaker Liberal showing at the polls across the country, which may have contributed to this wide margin.
In the 2011 election, Brown was elected to his third term in office by a wide margin.
expressed concern about how Patrick Brown used his Canadian House of Commons
account. He sent flyers to his riding which included a letter of support and a flyer from Councillor Michael Prowse. Brown used his House of Commons account to pay for the mailing because Michael Prowse could not afford to send the flyer out himself.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
. In 2006, Brown was elected
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
to serve in the Canadian parliament
39th Canadian Parliament
The 39th Canadian Parliament was in session from April 3, 2006 until September 7, 2008. The membership was set by the 2006 federal election on January 23, 2006, and it has changed only somewhat due to resignations and by-elections...
representing the riding of Barrie
Barrie (electoral district)
Barrie is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 2004. It consists of the City of Barrie in the County of Simcoe. It was created in 2003 when its predecessor, Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, was...
. Brown defeated Aileen Carroll
Aileen Carroll
Margaret Aileen Carroll, PC, MPP is a Canadian politician. She was the federal Minister for International Cooperation in the Paul Martin government, and later Ontario's Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Seniors.- Personal life :Carroll has a Bachelor of Arts from St...
, the incumbent Liberal MP and cabinet minister, in a re-match of the 2004 election in which he had been defeated.
Brown is the Deputy Chairman of the International Young Democrat Union
International Young Democrat Union
The International Young Democrat Union is an international grouping of centre-right political youth organisations, encompassing conservative, classical liberal, and Christian democratic traditions. It is the youth wing of the International Democrat Union , which brings together centre-right...
(IYDU). He has also represented Canada on a number of international assistance projects hosted by the IYDU.
Brown served two terms as President of the Progressive Conservative Youth Federation (PCYF) from 1998 to 2002. He also served on the executive of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
, as a Vice President.
As PCYF President, Brown was one of the early supporters of a united right and drew criticism for his decision to support a united right from party leader Joe Clark
Joe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Scott Brison
Scott Brison
Scott A. Brison, PC, MP is a Canadian politician from Nova Scotia, Canada. Brison has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Kings-Hants since the 1997 federal election. Brison was originally elected as a Progressive Conservative but crossed the floor to join the Liberal Party in 2003...
. Nonetheless, Brown was later re-elected as PCYF president with 81 percent of the vote against Jonathan Frate of Manitoba.
Brown graduated from St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School
St. Michael's College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Canada. Currently administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada, with an enrollment of approximately 1,080 students from grades 7 to 12. St...
and then went on to study political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He then graduated with a law degree from the University of Windsor
University of Windsor
The University of Windsor is a public comprehensive and research university in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's southernmost university. It has a student population of approximately 15,000 full-time and part-time undergraduate students and over 1000 graduate students...
.
During his second year at law school, he was one of 10 recipients of the prestigious As Prime Minister Awards. He also worked for Magna International
Magna International
Magna International Inc. , is an automotive supplier headquartered in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturer, and one of the country's largest companies. It owns the Magna Steyr automobile production company of Austria....
in their legal department over a period of four years.
Brown was elected to the city of Barrie
Barrie
Barrie may refer to:* Barrie, city in Ontario, Canada* Barrie , Canadian federal electoral district* Barrie , provincial electoral district* Barrie—Simcoe—Bradford, former Canadian electoral district...
council
Barrie City Council
Barrie City Council is the governing body for the City of Barrie, in Ontario, Canada.The council consists of the Mayor of Barrie and ten councillors, who represent the ten wards of the city...
in 2000 at age 22, defeating the incumbent councillor. He was re-elected in 2003 with 72 percent of the vote, the largest margin of victory in the city that year.
Brown was re-elected to parliament in the 2008 election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
by a large margin, more than double that of the next candidate. He defeated the relatively unknown, newcomer Liberal candidate, Rick Jones, by 15,195 votes. Liberal leader Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Dion
Stéphane Maurice Dion, PC, MP is a Canadian politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the riding of Saint-Laurent–Cartierville in Montreal since 1996. He was the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and the Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 2006 to 2008...
was immediately blamed for a substantially weaker Liberal showing at the polls across the country, which may have contributed to this wide margin.
In the 2011 election, Brown was elected to his third term in office by a wide margin.
Controversies
In November 2010, the Canadian Taxpayers FederationCanadian Taxpayers Federation
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is a Canadian federally incorporated, non-profit organization and taxpayers union that claims to have over 70,000 supporters across Canada. The organization advocates lower taxes, and a reduction of what it considers to be waste in government...
expressed concern about how Patrick Brown used his Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
account. He sent flyers to his riding which included a letter of support and a flyer from Councillor Michael Prowse. Brown used his House of Commons account to pay for the mailing because Michael Prowse could not afford to send the flyer out himself.