Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has joined Canadian political figures reacting to allegations of sexual misconduct against former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown, saying that his thoughts are with the women who came forward.

鈥淚t鈥檚 extremely important that we make absolutely clear that sexual harassment and sexual assault is unacceptable. We take these allegations extremely seriously whenever they come up,鈥� Trudeau told reporters in Davos, where he is attending the World Economic Forum.

鈥淥bviously my thoughts turn immediately to the women who came forward knowing how difficult it is, it can be, to salute them for their courage and their leadership and certainly hope that their example will resonate and that the support of their friends, their families, and the community at large remains with them,鈥� Trudeau said.

At a Queen鈥檚 Park news conference late Wednesday evening, Brown denied 鈥渢roubling allegations鈥� about his 鈥渃onduct and character.鈥� Early Thursday morning, Brown resigned as leader after consulting with friends, family and caucus members.

麻豆影视 reported detailed accounts from two women, both of whom describe inappropriate sexual encounters that occurred during Brown鈥檚 tenure as an elected official. None of the allegations have been proven in court.

Now, the Ontario PC Party says the caucus will consult party officials and members on the 鈥渂est way to move forward.鈥�

, if a leader dies, retires, or resigns, the caucus can elect an interim leader pending a leadership election. If the caucus is unable to select an interim leader, a joint meeting of the caucus and the executive will make the selection.

Here are some of the reactions:

Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Campaign Manager Andrew Boddington, Chief of Staff Alykhan Velshi, and Deputy Campaign Manager Dan Robertson

鈥淓arlier today, all three of us became aware of allegations about Patrick Brown. After speaking with him, our advice was that he should resign as PC Party leader. He did not accept that advice,鈥� they said in a statement.

鈥淪ince our view is that this advice was in the best interest of the PC Part, we have therefore resigned our positions鈥︹��

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said she was 鈥渟hocked鈥� after learning about the allegations through the media, and called for everyone to come together to 鈥渟hine a light鈥� on inappropriate behaviour.

鈥淲e鈥檙e all in this together,鈥� she told reporters on Thursday, in a statement that did not use Brown鈥檚 name at any point. She declined to comment on Brown specifically.

鈥淚 am not going to get into the legal aspects of any of the situations that we鈥檝e heard about over the last number of months,鈥� she said, when asked if she believes Brown鈥檚 two accusers. 鈥淚t was a difficult and brave thing to come forward,鈥� she added. 鈥淭hey need to be supported.鈥�

Wynne said the situation is not about politics, and that she can鈥檛 say whether it will lead her to call an election earlier than June.

鈥淭he political fallout will be what the political fallout will be,鈥� she said.

鈥淚t is always so brave to come forward. While we don鈥檛 have a comment on what has transpired tonight, my government and I have been clear on the issue of sexual harassment and assault. In fact, we created a policy and ran a pub ed (public education) campaign about it. That ad was called, 鈥淚t鈥檚 never ok,鈥� Wynne .

Federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer

鈥淭he allegations against the Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives are extremely serious and should be investigated fully,鈥� Sheer said in a statement. 鈥淪exual misconduct and sexual harassment have no place in Canadian society.鈥�

鈥淚 understand how difficult it can be for women to come forward under these circumstances.鈥�

Conservative MP and deputy Conservative leader Lisa Raitt

鈥淚 think Mr. Brown did the right thing last night resigning,鈥� Raitt told reporters on Thursday.

鈥淚 just want to be very clear that if there鈥檚 anybody in our party or anybody on the Hill or anybody in constituency offices who are experiencing this issue right now, I want them to know they can come to me and they have an open door,鈥� she said.

Ahead of the Ontario provincial election, Raitt said it鈥檚 鈥渧ery important鈥� that voters see a Conservative Party that can be trusted to lead.

When a reporter commented that Raitt seemed 鈥渧ery moved鈥� by the allegations against Brown, the MP responded: 鈥淚 am.

鈥淗ow could you not listen to the testimony that those two women gave last night and not maybe flash back to something that may have happened to you in the past?鈥� Raitt said.

Sylvia Jones and Steve Clark, PC Deputy Leaders

鈥淢r. Brown is entitled to a legal defense and due process, but he cannot lead us into an election as a result of these allegations,鈥� the deputy leaders . "The Ontario PC Party unequivocally upholds the principle that a safe and respectful society is what we expect and deserve. We need to move forward to eradicate sexual violence and harassment across the province."

鈥淥ur caucus will immediately consult with party officials and members on best way to move forward to defeat the Wynne Liberals in the 2018."

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath voiced her support for the women who came forward, during a media availability at Queen鈥檚 Park on Thursday morning.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important for us to listen to these women and support them,鈥� Horwath told reporters. She added that she was 鈥減retty disgusted鈥� by the allegations against Brown, saying: 鈥淚f he was in my caucus, he would not be sitting as an MPP any longer.鈥�

Horwath also took aim at the justice system when asked about condemning Brown in the court of public opinion, despite the allegations not being tested in court.

鈥淚 really have two words about the justice system: Jian Ghomeshi,鈥� she said, citing the former CBC host who was acquitted of four sexual assault-related charges in 2016.

鈥淟et鈥檚 face it, the justice system is failing women,鈥� Horwath said. 鈥淚t is. And that鈥檚 the reality 鈥� that鈥檚 why lots of women don鈥檛 come forward, especially when it relates to workplace issues, so let鈥檚 not pretend that we have a justice system that鈥檚 actually protecting women and making sure that women see justice.鈥�

Horwath also addressed the situation earlier in a written statement.

鈥淢y thoughts are with the brave young women who have spoken out to describe horrible, degrading and unsafe experiences they say happened at the hands of Patrick Brown,鈥� .

鈥淗e deserves his day in court, but no person can lead a political party in this province with allegations like these hanging over his head.鈥�

Lisa MacLeod, MPP for Nepean鈥擟arleton

鈥淚 do not and will not tolerate abuse or harassment, and I will do everything in my power to fight against it. My heart goes out to the women who have been impacted by this behavior. It takes courage to come forward and make these claims. These women deserve our support,鈥� she .

Victor Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing

鈥淢r. Brown is entitled to a legal defense and due process, but he cannot lead us into an election as a result of these allegations. The Ontario PC Caucus unequivocally upholds the principle that a safe and respectful society is what we expect and deserve. We need to move forward to eradicate sexual violence and harassment across the province.鈥�

Caroline Mulroney, PC candidate for York-Simcoe

鈥淭his is a sad say. Women are facing yet another story of harassment,鈥� Mulroney . 鈥淲e have heard too many of them. But women across Ontario will continue fighting together. We are working to build a world where no woman has to say 鈥渕e too鈥� ever again.鈥�

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh

鈥淥ur thoughts are with the brave women who have had the courage to speak out about their experiences. We believe survivors & offer all survivors our unwavering support. The allegations against Patrick Brown are serious and deeply disturbing.鈥�

Toronto Mayor John Tory

"Obviously, the reports of sexual assault and harassment brought forward by two women yesterday are saddening and disturbing," the statement read. "One thing which is changing, as well it should be, is that victims of assault and harassment are increasingly coming forward and making their voices heard, knowing that diligent investigation and accountability will follow."

"Political leaders have a responsibility to set a high standard, both through their words and their actions, and we must all state loudly that this type of behaviour is never okay."

Amanda Simard, PC candidate for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell

鈥淭he allegations of sexual misconduct put [forward] by two courageous women against Patrick Brown yesterday are very serious. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable has no place in our society. I believe that Mr. Brown made the right decision in resigning as Leader.鈥�

Goldie Ghamari, PC candidate for Carleton

鈥淚 know how hard it must be for these women to bring forth these allegations. I also [know] how hard it must be for the accused to defend themselves. As a woman and a lawyer, I have full faith in our justice system and our police force. I believe that these very serious allegations must be fully investigated.鈥�

Michael Smolders, Alliance candidate for Mississauga-Streetsville

鈥淲hether these allegations are true, time will tell. If they are true, our hearts go out to those victims,鈥� Smolders . 鈥淧atrick Brown and the whole PC party have fractured Conservatives. The Ontario Alliance is bringing everybody back together again under one home.鈥�

Susan Truppe, PC candidate for London North Centre

鈥淭he allegations made against Patrick Brown are both serious and troubling and do not reflect my values or those of the constituents of London North Centre,鈥� Truppe . 鈥淚鈥檇 like to thank the women for their bravery in coming forward.鈥�