The interim leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservative Party says the Tories have just over 133,000 members, some 67,000 fewer than claimed by former leader Patrick Brown less than a month ago.
In an e-mail to the PC caucus obtained by The Canadian Press, Vic Fedeli says a check of the party's membership system this week turned up the discrepancy.
He says that within hours of Brown's sudden resignation on Jan. 25, party IT workers shut down the Tories' membership management system to protect member information.
In media interviews on Jan. 12, Brown said the party's membership had swollen to more than 200,000 people across the province.
Brown resigned after CTV News reported allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by two women.
Brown vehemently denies the allegations, which The Canadian Press has not independently verified.