Veteran MPP Garfield Dunlop is stepping down so Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative leader can run in his riding.
Dunlop has announced he will resign as MPP for Simcoe North as of Aug. 1 after representing his constituents in the Ontario legislature for 16 years. Dunlop made the announcement during a news conference in Coldwater on Wednesday.
PC leader Patrick Brown, who has been without a seat at Queen’s Park since becoming the head of the Conservative party in May, will now run in Dunlop’s place.
"I said some things that were completely wrong, and I was wrong to say them," he said. "I have watched Patrick Brown grow in the last nine or 10 months ... coming into our caucus and being accepted immediately as leader."
Brown shrugged off Dunlop's earlier criticism.
"I learned over the years that there's no script for Garfield," Brown said to laughs from the many Dunlop supporters gathered in the community of Coldwater for the announcement. "He's sincere, he's authentic and he's a gentleman."
The riding of Simcoe North consists of several municipalities including Midland, Orillia, Penetanguishene and Oro-Medonte.
Dunlop has operated as the PC critic for education and the critic for training, colleges and universities since being re-elected last June.
The move comes as a bit of a surprise because Dunlop was one of the most vocal opponents to Brown in the PC caucus during the leadership race.
Deputy Premier Deb Matthews said Premier Kathleen Wynne would not call the byelection in Simcoe North until after the Oct. 19 federal election to avoid confusing voters with duplicate campaigns.
Some Tories were worried Brown could face the same problems getting a seat in the legislature that former PC leader John Tory had after he lost to Wynne in a Toronto riding in 2007 and then lost a byelection in Peterborough.
With files from The Canadian Press.
