PC riding rep raps lobbyists on Ford campaign
Premier Doug Ford’s ties to lobbyists have “alarmed” a Progressive Conservative riding association president, according to an internal party email obtained by the Toronto Star.
In a letter to Ford, Tory executive director Mike Crase and other PC officials, Lillo Ognibene complained about the premier’s appointment of a dozen lobbyists to his 17-member re-election committee.
“These series of decisions represent a continued undermining of the democratic integrity of our Ontario PC Party,” Ognibene, who is president of the Cambridge riding association, wrote last week.
“It leaves grassroots party members, and their representative boards, with a shrinking voice, and without any legitimate means to enable accountable representation,” he continued.
“We are alarmed at these decisions and the impact they will have on our party as we move closer to the next election. We trust that you will consider these matters with the level of seriousness that they deserve.”
In an email, the party defended the committee, noting it “is comprised of long-time party volunteers from across the province.”
“They represent among the best political minds in Ontario. The committee is solely focused on providing advice to our leader leading up to the next election,” said Marcus Mattinson, the Tories’ director of communications.
“There are no government staff or officials on the committee, as the expressed purpose of the committee is to focus on election preparedness,” said Mattinson.
“It’s also worth noting that many members of the committee are either current or former party executive members who were chosen by the members of our party.”
Ognibene said the association has “concerns about the ongoing positioning of lobbyists within the senior ranks of our party, their access to government, and the perpetual conflict of interest this creates.”
The Cambridge association — in the riding held by Tory MPP Belinda Karahalios — is critical of the fact that PC president Brian Patterson and vice-president Chris Loreto are on the campaign.
“Mr. Patterson and Mr. Loreto are each currently serving twoyear terms as president and first vice-president of our party, respectively, as a result of an illegitimate election that inexplicably has been accepted by party staff.”
In that contest, Patterson narrowly defeated Jim Karahalios, husband of the Cambridge MPP.
Ford defended lobbyists’ role on his campaign this month.
“Let’s be clear: No one can buy Doug Ford. It’s simple. No one can influence me. The only people that influence me are all the people standing out there. The people: that’s who influences me,” he said.