Patrick Brown’s India pandering put him on the radar

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown responded on Monday to a Radio-Canada report alleging that the Indian government hurt his Conservative Leadership campaign in 2022.

Patrick Brown was disqualified from the race on July 5th, 2022 for a violation of financial provisions of the Elections Canada Act. He subsequently endorsed former Quebec Liberal Premier Jean Charest, who ended up getting blown out by Pierre Poilievre.

In a statement, Brown said he “has no reason to believe foreign influence altered the final outcome of the Conservative Party Leadership race”. He also suggested that his requested appearance from the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security is being sought for political reasons.

Brown’s history with India

Radio-Canada’s report alleging Indian foreign influence against Brown’s campaign is likely unsurprising to Brampton residents and all Canadians who are familiar with his tendency to pander to both Sikhs and Hindus.

Brampton hosts the largest Sikh population in Canada with over 163,000, according to the 2021 Census. Fast forward three years, the number is believed to be much higher with a quadrupling of Indian migration to Canada in recent years.

Brown has pandered to this demographic, but he’s also been quite friendly with Indian Prime Minister Modi, a Hindu. In 2015, India Today reported that Brown, then a Barrie, Ontario MP, had visited India a total of 15 times, including multiple times Modi.

While CBC/Radio-Canada alleged the Indian government worked against Brown, his historical relationship with Modi appeared anything but tenuous.

Mayor Brown

Ironically, Brown’s recent transition from Federal and Provincial politics back into the municipal scene likely set him in a position in favour in the Sikh-stronghold that is Brampton, given that they still vastly outnumber Hindus in Brampton.

Last month, in response to violent clashes between each group in Brampton, Mayor Brown suggested that a bylaw be established in order to separate both Hindu nationalists and Sikh separatists from protesting near places or worship.