Clement supporting Caroline Mulroney

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — There appears to be a provincial Conservative split in Muskoka.

The Tory MP and MPP are on opposite sides when it comes to a new Ontario party leader.

Norm Miller supported Christine Elliott in the last leadership race won by Patrick Brown.

She, of course, lost — but is now back in the running.

And presumably Miller has her back again — although he hasn’t said so officially.

However, his federal counterpart, Tony Clement, is supporting her leading rival.

In a tweet, Clement says: “Pleased to announce that I’m supporting @C_Mulroney for leader of the @OntarioPCParty!

“In my experience as ex-Ontario PC Party President, MPP, Cabinet minister & Ontario PC Leadership Candidate I am convinced she has the leadership skills to win the Province & govern effectively!”

Clement had stood alongside fellow MP Brown as part of Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party for many years.

Clement tweeted back when Brown announced sexual allegations of against him that he’s “sickened and disheartened by the events which led to Patrick Brown’s resignation.”

Clement reportedly toyed with returning to the tumltuous race, but with one poll having him just a 6 per cent chance of returning to the party presidency, he’s stayed on the sidelines.

This is his first public statement on the gripping events.

Meanwhile, Clement is continuing with his work as a Opposition member of Parliament.

And travelling abroad this week to Spain, for International Democrat Union executive meetings in Salamanca, followed in Madrid by the party leaders’ meetings.

The IDU is a group of conservative politicians from Canada, the U.S. Republican Party, Britain’s Conservative Party of Prime Minister Theresa May, the German Christian Democrats of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and that of Australian Liberal Party of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.