Duncan apologizes for attacks on Tories, Trump
Bridge authority chair should quit over online posts, Ontario PCs say
Dwight Duncan, chairman of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, has issued a lengthy apology after coming under fire for “partisan” attacks against the Tories and Donald Trump.
Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives accused the former provincial Liberal finance minister of breaking the rules for public office holders and that he should resign.
Duncan issued his apology Tuesday in a letter to Amarjeet Sohi, the federal minister of infrastructure and communities.
“A number of my postings clearly violated the letter and spirit of Parliament’s direction to Governor-in-Council appointees respecting partisan involvement while serving,” Duncan wrote. “Those postings have been or are being deleted today.
“I wish to unreservedly apologize to you, and through you to Parliament. At the time of my appointment I was made aware of the rules and expectations of all of us who have the privilege of serving in these posts.” Duncan didn’t respond to a request for further comment Tuesday.
The Ontario PC party called on Duncan to resign from his post as bridge authority chairman Tuesday after a report in the Globe and Mail stated he uses social media to “level disparaging comments at Donald Trump and the federal and Ontario conservatives.”
“The chair of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority is a nonpartisan position, but Dwight Duncan has been using his platform to spread a partisan agenda,” said Ontario PC transportation critic Michael Harris. “Dwight Duncan should be spending all his time and efforts trying to get this bridge delivered on time and on budget, not grandstanding with partisan attacks.”
In a press release, the provincial Conservative party said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s rules for public office holders state they must refrain from “expressing partisan views where this may reasonably be seen to be incompatible with or impair the ability to discharge the office holder’s public duties.”
“After being caught abusing the integrity of the office, Dwight Duncan should do the honourable thing and resign,” said Harris.
The bridge authority, a federal Crown corporation, is overseeing construction of the $4.8-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge.
The Trudeau government appointed Duncan to the bridge authority in January 2016. He is paid between $6,400 and $7,500 a year for the part-time position, which is supposed to be non-partisan.
The Globe and Mail published a story Monday noting several of Duncan’s social media entries, including one where he posted a newspaper article on Facebook with the headline “Ireland’s PM basically trashed Trump’s immigration policy while standing next to him.”
Duncan then wrote “a stunning reminder by the Taoiseach that is as applicable to Canada as it is to the U.S. Fortunately we have a PM and a government that gets it.” The Taoiseach is the head of Ireland’s government.
The Globe reported that Duncan also posted a video on Feb. 17 of Arnold Schwarzenegger “criticizing the gerrymandering of congressional districts.” With the post, Duncan wrote “so true. Canada has managed to avoid this absurdity. Helps understanding what is wrong with America’s politics.”
Other social media entries being questioned include one from Dec. 11, 2016, when Duncan posted a newspaper story with pictures of Conservative party leadership candidates Kellie Leitch, Brad Trost and Chris Alexander, and tweeted: “The disturbing face of today’s conservatism.”
The Globe also stated Duncan has been “effusive in his praise of Mr. Trudeau,” writing on Facebook that he was “more proud than ever to be Canadian and very, very proud of my prime minister.”
Duncan wrote in his apology letter that he reviewed his more than 300 online posts since his appointment as interim chair of the bridge authority in December 2015. He called his online activity an “obvious lapse in judgment.”
He went on to say that he will immediately stop making financial contributions to the Ontario Liberal Party. He said he doesn’t believe such activity is captured by parliamentary rules, but will stop the contributions to “respect the spirit of the government and Parliament’s intent.”
“As a former Parliamentarian, I deeply regret the lack of respect shown to Parliament as a result of my actions,” he wrote.