Ford’s lobbyist ties worry PC riding association

Re-election committee appointments seen as a threat to party’s integrity

Premier Doug Ford’s ties to lobbyists have “alarmed” a Progressive Conservative riding association president, according to an internal party email obtained by the 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.”

In February, the Star disclosed that the Conservatives had enlisted lobbyists to sell tickets to Ford’s $1,250-a-ticket dinner at the Toronto Congress Centre. That revelation led the premier to ban the media from covering the dinner event, which was attended by 3,200 supporters and brought in a Canadian-record $4 million to party coffers.

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.”

“A recent media report in the Globe and Mail described the increasing influence that lobbyists continue to have on our party and the government,” he said, referring to a lengthy newspaper story last month on Ford’s deep connections to two lobbying firms.

“In light of these details, we find it alarming that the composition of the (re-election team) is dominated by individuals who are either registered lobbyists, or who own or are employed at firms that focus on lobbying.”

Earlier this month, Ford defended the role of lobbyists on his campaign.

“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.

“We have a large re-election team right across this province.”