The Conservative Party has kicked Patrick Brown out of its leadership race. The Canadian Press reports that:

The campaign for Patrick Brown said it was consulting its legal team after the leadership election organizing committee of the federal Conservatives voted to disqualify him from the race late Tuesday. 

Ian Brodie, the chair of the committee, announced the stunning move in a written statement after a meeting to discuss the matter.

He said the party had recently become aware of "serious allegations of wrongdoing" by the Brown campaign.

The allegations are related to the financing rules in the Canada Elections Act, Brodie said, but provided no further details.

In his statement late Tuesday night, Brodie said the chief returning officer for the party informed Brown of the concerns it received regarding the financing of his campaign, requesting a written response, and decided to withhold the interim membership list from his campaign.

Thus, one of Pierre Poilievre's main rivals has been dispatched:

Poilievre had not yet responded to the leadership election organizing committee's decision by late Tuesday night.

The campaign for former Quebec premier Jean Charest, who is also in the leadership contest, did respond by calling the news "deeply troubling."

"We expect further communications on the allegations of wrongdoing," wrote Charest campaign spokeswoman Michelle Coates-Mather.

"Transparency is paramount. We need to understand what the allegations are and how Patrick Brown's campaign responded."

Although he has been disqualified, his name is expected to still appear on the ranked ballot. A party spokesman said late Tuesday that a large batch of them had already been sent to members in the mail.

More proof that the Conservative Party shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the local dog catcher's office, let alone the Government of Canada.

Image: National Newswatch