TOP AIDE REJOINS TORY TEAM

Patrick Brown’s ex-chief of staff, who quit when Brown initially refused to resign, now working for Vic Fedeli,

Patrick Brown’s ex-chief of staff, who resigned after the former Progressive Conservative leader rejected his advice to quit following a sexual misconduct scandal, has returned to Queen’s Park.

Alykhan Velshi, one of a group of aides who left Wednesday after CTV revealed allegations of Brown’s sexual impropriety with teenagers, will serve as chief of staff to interim leader Vic Fedeli. In a memo to MPPs and PC candidates in the June 7 provincial election, Velshi said he was “honoured” Fedeli asked him to resume his duties.

“The last few days have been emo- tionally draining for many of us, filled with uncertainty but also a great deal of hope and optimism,” he wrote.

“We have a number of important tasks before us. First of all, it is important we provide a strong opposition to Kathleen Wynne in the upcoming legislative sitting. Second, there must be a successful transition from the previous leader. That must be our focus.”

Even though Fedeli will be a candidate for the full-time post as leader, Velshi said he and other staff in the office would remain neutral in that contest, expected to come in March.

That means the interim leader will need to have a separate campaign staff for the party leadership as he runs against likely candidates such as lawyer Caroline Mulroney and business and civic leader Rod Phillips.

“During the coming months, the activities of OLO (Office of the Leader of the Opposition) will be under particular scrutiny,” Velshi wrote.

“Our actions must be, and must be seen to be, beyond reproach by taxpayers, party members, caucus, staff, and candidates alike. OLO must remain neutral. I must remain neutral. And we must remain neutral,” he continued.

“I have also asked for added levels of scrutiny to be placed on OLO spending to ensure it continues to only be for legislative activities.”

Velshi also addressed the allega- tions swirling around his former boss, Brown.

“Everyone who works in OLO deserves to be able to do their jobs free from harassment. As (Fedeli) said yesterday, ‘harassment has no place in our society. Any allegations must be taken very seriously’ and we must create a ‘safe, comfortable environment’ for all of our staff,” he wrote.

“While we strengthen our processes, let me be very clear. Zero tolerance means zero tolerance. If you have engaged in inappropriate behaviour towards a fellow staff member in OLO, you need to leave and leave now, because I will redefine the meaning of the word ruthlessness in protecting staff who work for me.”