Ford’s Tories fear MPPs might defect to the Liberals
Up to seven cited as potential deserters, with two said to be from the GTHA
THE PROGRESSIVE
Conservatives fear some disgruntled MPPs are set to cross the floor to join the Liberals, the Toronto Star has learned.
That’s a key reason why Premier Doug Ford is increasing the threshold for official party status in the legislature from eight MPPs to 12, a senior source says.
A single defection would give the seven-member Liberal caucus official status.
“There are at least two we’re concerned about,” a senior Conservative insider said, speaking like others from the Liberals and PCs on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal machinations.
“We’ve been watching this closely,” the PC source said, declining to reveal which MPPs are suspected of plotting to defect except to say that two are from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
“No less than seven members want to get out,” a senior Conservative operative told the Star.
On Friday, sources close to Ford said there is also mounting concern that eastern Ontario PC MPP Amanda Simard might switch parties.
Simard (Glengarry-PrescottRussell) made headlines this week by breaking with the government over the elimination of the French-language services watchdog and the cancellation of a new francophone university.
While the rookie MPP received permission from Ford’s office to publicly dissent on Facebook to help quell outrage among voters, she has not been seen at Queen’s Park since Wednesday. She is set to appear on the popular Quebec TV show “Tout le monde en parle” on Sunday.
On Friday a second Tory close to Ford said “we have not heard back from her.”
The Star has guaranteed the confidential sources anonymity so they can speak freely without fear of retribution.
The source said Simard had the support of both caucus and cabinet for her Facebook post, adding “they went out of their way to help her out.”
Simard has been the target of francophone fury with the government, which is why she has been allowed more leeway than other caucus members to break ranks over recent cuts.
On Facebook, Simard — whose riding was in Liberal hands for almost four decades until her June win — said she “needs to assess where we are and what we can do and must do.”
She did not return calls, emails, or text messages from the Star.
Late Friday afternoon, the Ford government scrambled to do damage control, announcing that Attorney General Caroline Mulroney, who has been minister responsible for francophone affairs, will become a full minister of the department that is being renamed a “ministry” from an “office.” It’s unclear what practical difference this will make.
As well, Ford’s office pledged to hire a senior policy adviser on francophone affairs and Ford said “I am looking forward to the day where we are in a financial position to proceed with projects like the French language university.”
Simard, a lawyer and former municipal councillor who has worked on Parliament Hill as a policy adviser, is the parliamentary assistant to Mulroney in her secondary role at francophone affairs.
A senior Liberal source confirmed that there has been outreach to disaffected Conservatives.