Probe launched into allegation against Wilson
PCs take ‘swift action’ to investigate reported complaint against minister who resigned
Investigations of key players in Premier Doug Ford’s government have been launched, suggesting there is more to former minister Jim Wilson’s sudden departure than the Progressive Conservatives’ initial story that he was seeking treatment for alcohol addiction.
Children, Community Services and Women’s Issues Minister Lisa MacLeod confirmed that “swift action was taken” by the Conservative government. Wilson “resigned from caucus immediately. An investigation was put in place,” MacLeod told reporters in Ottawa on Monday.
She also said a separate investigation is being conducted into allegations against Andrew Kimber, the premier’s executive director of issues management and legislative affairs, who resigned from Ford’s office just hours after Wilson’s exit.
“I know in both instances that were revealed today that investigations — third party investigations — started to take place immediately,” MacLeod said.
The minister said she was not aware of what “allegations” prompted these investigations.
Multiple news organizations reported Monday that Wilson quit after a complaint from a male Tory staffer and that Kimber left after it was alleged that inappropriate texts were sent to female PC aides. The truth of both allegations has not been determined.
Ford’s fledgling administration has been rocked by the departures. The premier and his senior aides were still scrambling Monday after the surprise resignations.
Hours after Ford shuffled his cabinet, which was first revealed by the Star on Sunday night, the premier’s office issued a terse statement on the sudden loss of two powerful figures.
“Jim Wilson is no longer a minister of the government, nor is he a member of the PC caucus. He has entered a treatment facility to deal with addiction issues,” said Ford’s office. “Andrew Kimber resigned from the premier’s office. As a matter of policy, we don’t comment on specific details of internal staffing matters,” the statement continued.
“Generally speaking, if allegations are brought forward to senior staff of the government or the PC caucus, a process is activated immediately and we provide staff with support and reassurance of their right to work in an environment that is free of harassment,” it said.
“To protect the identity of any individual who brings forward an allegation, we would not comment on particulars.”
Neither Wilson nor Kimber returned messages seeking comment from the Star. Kimber’s wife, Amanda Philp, a well-respected political veteran, was Wilson’s chief of staff.
Ford’s office said the timing of the two men leaving was coincidental.
The minister’s resignation forced Ford to shuffle his cabinet, demoting some underperformers and promoting upand-coming ministers. The swearing-in was done behind closed doors early Monday morning and no media were present.
“After four months of unprecedented action, we are taking this opportunity to calibrate our cabinet assignments to ensure we continue to deliver on our commitments to the people,” the rookie premier said in a statement Monday prior to the revelation that investigations had been launched.
“We have the best team in politics and a plan that is working,” he said after meeting with Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell at Queen’s Park for a hastily called swearing-in ceremony.
Ford said his hand was forced by Wilson’s unexpected resignation Friday. Only hours after the premier had praised him in Sarnia as an “all-star minister” that day, the veteran SimcoeGrey MPP announced he was stepping down from cabinet to deal with addiction issues.
He has also left the Conservative caucus and will sit as an independent MPP. Government house leader Todd Smith is the new economic development minister.
Demoted was Michael Tibollo, who moves to tourism, culture, and sport after a shaky 129 days as minister of community safety and correctional services.
Tibollo got off to a rocky start in July when he boasted of going on a police ride-along to Jane and Finch while sporting a bulletproof vest.
“I want to reassure everyone that the focus of this government is to ensure that safety is paramount in all communities. Personally, I went out to Jane and Finch, put on a bulletproof vest and spent 7 o’clock to 1 o’clock in the morning visiting sites that had previously had bullet-ridden people killed in the middle of the night,” he said at the time.
That sparked howls of outrage from the opposition and from the community.
Last week, Tibollo (Vaughan-Woodbridge) was under fire after Torstar’s Queen’s Park Briefing and the Globe and Mail reported on his legal travails years before he entered into politics.
Still, Ford initially stood by the embattled minister.
“The minister of community safety and correctional services is the most credible minister down here. He has integrity, he has transparency and he’s an absolute champion,” the premier said last Thursday.
“I’ll stand beside him any day, 365 days a year. I have 1,000 per cent confidence,” he said.
Senior Conservative sources, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations, said the premier privately felt blindsided by the revelations in the press — even though much of what was reported was in the public realm.
Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon, is the new minister of community safety and correctional services. Jones, a solid performer, had been minister of tourism, culture, and sport.
Also swapping roles is John Yakabuski, who loses the highprofile transportation department to rising star Jeff Yurek.
Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipis- sing-Pembroke) takes over Yurek’s post as minister of natural resources and forestry.
Entering cabinet is Bill Walker (Bruce- Grey- Owen Sound), who becomes minister of government and consumer services.
Replacing Walker as chief government whip is Whitby MPP Lorne Coe and the deputy whip is now Doug Downey.
Losing Wilson is a big blow to the new government.
The 28-year MPP, a former interim PC leader, was one of only three ministers with any previous cabinet experience — along with Agriculture Minister Ernie Hardeman and Energy Minister Greg Rickford.
Wilson was Ford’s point person on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal as well as on the government’s sweeping rollback of the previous Liberal administration’s labour reforms. NDP MPP Sara Singh (Brampton Centre) expressed concern that Ford didn’t seize the opportunity to make the cabinet more ethnically diverse.Seniors Minister Raymond Cho remains the only visible minority minister of the cabinet.
“We’re aren’t seeing any of those members being brought forward. We’re not seeing this province being accurately reflected in the cabinet choices,” said Singh.