Liberals accused of using public funds to campaign

TORONTO — Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives have accused the governing Liberals of spending public funds on campaignstyle events ahead of the spring election, and have asked Elections Ontario to investigate.

Tory officials said Monday that party lawyers sent a letter to the agency responsible for administering provincial elections, alleging the Liberals held events this month advertising “political platforms” rather than government programs.

Campaign adviser Frank Klees told a news conference that the Liberals have taken “a scandalous approach ... to campaigning.”

“Over the last two weeks, (Premier) Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal party have been shamelessly campaigning on the taxpayer’s dime,” he said. “Just today, Wynne sent out four of her ministers across the GTA to make additional campaign stops.”

The Tories said the Liberal party should foot the bill for those events, not taxpayers.

“We’re asking Elections Ontario to investigate this, and we would call on — and we trust Elections Ontario will call on — the Liberal party to reimburse the taxpayers,” Klees said.

Elections Ontario declined to comment on whether it had received the complaint or if it would be investigating.

Liberal campaign co-chair Deb Matthews rejected the Tory allegations, saying Wynne is doing “what she’s always done. She is doing government announcements of government initiatives.”

Wynne spokesperson Andrea Ernesaks said in a statement the allegations are hypocritical: “As the leader of the Opposition, (Doug) Ford relies on a large number of staff at the legislature who are paid by the taxpayer.”

Ontario’s election is set for June 7.