Rarely does Wayne Gretzky dip his toe into the political area, but on Monday the Great One made an endorsement of Patrick Brown to lead Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party.
“I have known Patrick Brown for a number of years now,” Gretzky said in a statement. “Hard working and dedicated, Patrick is a strong Conservative. He has the passion and vision to lead Ontario.”
The 36-year-old Brown, an MP who is aiming to grow the province’s PC membership to 10,000, has often been involved in the annual Hockey Night in Barrie charity hockey tournament, which features current and retired hockey players and other celebrities.
“I am honoured to have support from Wayne Gretzky, a Canadian icon and one of the greatest athletes of our time,” Brown said in the press release.
“I am rebuilding the PC Party by reaching out to people outside our traditional voting base. I am connecting with people who share a vision of a better Ontario but who haven’t felt at home with our Party, and those who have never been politically active before. Ontario is tired of the same old, same old and wants change. Together with the thousands of Ontarians that have already joined me, we are going to do something special and win in 2018.”
Gretzky, who lives in the U.S., still holds dual citizenship.
Brown has been leveraging NHL connections to boost his political profile for months, as detailed by the Ottawa Citizen.
Brown is running against deputy Ontario PC leader Christine Elliott, the widow of former federal finance minister Jim Flaherty, and London-area MPP Monte McNaughton.
Progressive Conservatives across the province will vote in May for the leader to replace Tim Hudak, who resigned after the Tories’ fourth consecutive election loss to the Liberals last June.
(with files from CP)
