Canada: Patrick Brown quits Ontario PC leadership race

Ontario PC's chief electoral officer Hartley Lefton tweeted to confirm the news.

He said: "Confirming: The Chief Electoral Officer, @OntarioPCParty President and I received a letter a short while ago from @brownbarrie announcing his withdrawal from the #PCPOLdr race. The next Leader of the #PCPO will be @TGranicAllen, @celliottability, @fordnation or @C_Mulroney."

Following the confirmation of the news, Brown took to social media to explain the reasons behind his decision to quit. He shared his statement on Twitter.

Brown had resigned from his party post after he was alleged to sexually ill-treat two women.

Later he had jumped into the leadership race, surprising everyone.

The allegations were brought by the women in an interview with CTV News.

Reportedly, one of the accused had later changed her stance.

Brown called the news report as "false, malicious, irresponsible and defamatory".

Brown has also sent a libel notice to CTV News for allegedly reporting a false sexual harassment case against him.

Brown's former girl friend Mikaela Patterson, in an interview with CBC News, has rubbished allegations made by one of the two accusers, media reports said.

Patterson has rubbished the allegations made by the then university student who had accused Brown of sexual ill-treating her following a Hockey Night in Barrie Charity game.

(Reporting by Suman Das)