Posted by Barrie Bradford on 1/31/2004, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Re:Scott Brison M.P. for Kings-Hants Nova Scotia P.C. Finance Critic defects to the PaulMartinLiberals" "I certainly don't deny having blasted Patrick verbally, but I didn't threaten him", said Brison in a phone interview this morning. "I don't suffer fools gladly ... I have a short fuse, probably not the most patient guy in politics ... I did tell him that he is not burdened by an over-abundance of intelligence and I did express my displeasure with his recent press release ... absolutely ludicrous". Brison's exchange with Brown was heard by several dozen delegates. He admonished Brown to "smarten up" and suggested that the youth poohbah was jeopardizing his future career But Brison says he merely told Brown that "if you want to be a good lawyer, you will have difficulty with that demonstrable level of intelligence. I'm not a lawyer myself, so I'm not sure what kind of influence I would have with law firms". In an email interview late last night, Brown confirmed the incident, telling Bourque that he was "disappointed" with Brison's approach, while noting that "internal party matters are better left internal". OF THEE I SING Tory Dissident Out Patrick Brown, one of the few youth executives who didnt abandon the Tories last year, was asked to resign late Tuesday by members of the partys management committee. When Brown refused, senior party officials, including leader Joe Clark, voted to suspend his position on the committee until further notice. Brown says he believes it happened because of talks he had with young Alliance and Tory members on promoting greater co-operation. That initiative has been ill-received by some party members, including MP Scott Brison. Brown and Brison got into a shouting match during a meeting of Nova Scotia Conservatives this month over Browns links to the Alliance. Brown said he was asked by members of the partys executive who talk about joining forces with the Alliance, but really have no interest in the concept. Although Joes come a long way
theres still a large entity within the leadership of the party that would rather co-operate with the Liberals than co-operate with the Alliance. Tory national director Susan Elliott said Browns suspension had nothing to do with his Alliance flirtation, but rather with derogatory remarks hes made about Clark.
At approximately 1:15 am yesterday, sources say PC Youth President Patrick Brown was accosted and threatened by PC MP Scott Brison for his involvement in the new PC
Youth/Alliance Youth initiative as he left a hospitality suite on the 8th floor of the Westin hotel in Halifax.
(both political and professional) by openly defying federal PC leader Joe Clark on the issue of PC/Alliance cooperation. Saying that he could "make a few calls to law firms" upon Patrick's future graduation from law school, "Brison appeared to suggest that he would try and use his influence as an MP to inhibit Brown's future employment prospects", according to one observer.
"Bourque remains a low level news source that will print anything it can." - Patrick Brown, PCYF President ... "Although PC MP Scott Brison was direct in his complete contempt for Patrick, the entire room cheered as Patrick departed and began chants of Scott, Scott, Scott. Patrick does not have many friends in Nova Scotia" - delegate Christopher Street ..."Really, Patrick told you that party matters are best left internal? Then why was he spilling his guts to you over the email?" - Stacey Gray, PC Leader's Communications Directo
Ottawa, Feb. 15, 2001, (Montreal Gazette) - The suspension of the Conservative youth-wing president has highlighted a rift between party members who support greater links with Canadian Alliance and those who bitterly oppose it.
