For $125 apiece, Progressive Conservative supporters can rub shoulders with the party leader and munch corn-on-the-cob this weekend.
PC Leader Patrick Brown will host his first annual corn roast on Sept. 10 "in support of the Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte Constituency Association," <a href="https://secure.ontariopc.com/PartyEvents/1220" target="_blank">according to an invite posted on the party's website</a>. The association was established in the wake of boundary changes at the federal level last year that will put 15 new ridings into play for the 2018 provincial election, mostly in the southern parts of the province.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Pleased to speak at the founding meeting of the new Barrie-Springwater Oro-Medonte <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PCPO?src=hash">#PCPO</a> riding association. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/onpoli?src=hash">#onpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/gkYbdZJHY0">pic.twitter.com/gkYbdZJHY0</a>
— Patrick Brown (@brownbarrie) <a href="https://twitter.com/brownbarrie/status/761019329710174209">August 4, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Such corn roasts could soon be going the way of the dodo if the Liberal government's proposal to ban all MPPs from fundraising events goes through as part of ongoing reform to election finance legislation. The Liberals, who boast a majority in the house, have generally kept mum on the details of what that ban would look like, including whether politicians will be allowed to attend fundraisers during an election period.
However, Government House Leader Yasir Naqvi has said the public per-vote subsidy would be further expanded, not only to offset union and corporate contributions, but to cover the loss to riding associations as well.

Happening: Patrick Brown’s first corn roast

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