The race for a new leader for Ontario’s struggling Progressive Conservative Party kicked off Saturday afternoon with members vowing to be a united party regardless of the income.

The leadership campaign had pitted some members against each other as they declared their support for either veteran MPP and Deputy Leader Christine Elliott or federal MP from Barrie Patrick Brown.

For more information on the candidates and the issues leading up to today, click here.

However, on Saturday, the differences were mostly left at the door, even from the party’s most outspoken members.

Monte McNaughton, who bowed out of the leadership race to support Brown, ruffled some feathers when he penned a letter to the membership slamming Elliott’s stance on the Liberals’ proposed update of the sex-ed curriculum. Brown has come out against the plan while Elliott has said she would like to see more discussion around the topic.

McNaughton said Elliot’s plan belonged under a “big pink tent” rather than a Conservative blue tent leading some to believe his message had homophobic undertones.

On Saturday, McNaughton didn’t directly address the issue when he was asked about it but joked that he was wearing “a hint of pink” today.

He said unity is the priority and he will stand behind whoever wins.

Former leader Mike Harris was also in attendance. He told CP24 all that matters are the values of the party.

“We’re a united party fighting for what unites us. There is lots of commonality of things we need to unite around to provide alternative in province,” he said. “Leadership campaigns are leadership campaigns. I’m here to unite behind whoever wins today.”

Although there was some question about whether or not he would attend the convention, former party leader Tim Hudak did indeed make an appearance, arriving with his children in tow and refused to say who he voted for.

“That’s between me and the ballot box,” he laughed. “I have known both of them for a long, long time.”

I think the most important thing is presenting a clear conservative alternative,” he said.

The PC party has not won since 2003 when the Liberals, led by Dalton McGuinty at the time, took power.

The Liberals have remained in power since then despite facing several spending scandals.

Hudak, who vowed to cut 100,000 government jobs during the last election campaign, resigned from the leadership the night of the election.