Watch: Embattled Liberal adviser Andrew Leslie is fighting off criticism from the Conservative after Global News revealed he took advantage of a government moving perk that cost taxpayers $72,000. Vassy Kapelos reports.
MONTREAL – Retired Lt. -Gen. Andrew Leslie admitted to having “discussions” with the Conservative party before joining the Liberals, but refused to answer whether he approached the Tories as the party now claims.
At a press conference following his speech at the Liberal policy convention, Leslie said he had a “variety of discussions” with political parties before he joined the Liberals.
“A bunch of people have talked to me, and I’ve talked to a bunch of people,” he said.
“Quite frankly, over the course of the last couple years, depending on what level, people approached me and as you get higher up the food chain, you’re talking to them, and you’re approaching them, and it’s a bit of a back and forth, much akin to a dance.”
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The Conservative party contends it was Leslie who approached them – a claim Leslie didn’t deny.
It took several attempts to confirm with Leslie that he even had discussions with the Conservatives.
“It is true that there were discussions between myself and a variety of political parties of which the Conservatives were one,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Leslie fired back at the Conservatives over his $72,000 moving expenses, saying the government attacked him out of fear.
“This was a partisan attack designed to discourage others like me or like you from joining Justin (Trudeau)’s team because certain people are frightened (of) the spirit of optimism, hard work and hope,” Leslie told delegates at the Liberal policy convention Friday.
Leslie said it was the Conservative government itself that managed the severance benefit for retiring soldiers, which includes covering expenses for those who have served more than 20 years.
“It’s not about the policy. As mentioned the Conservatives have owned this policy for eight years. It’s administered by the minister of national defence. It’s his policy,” he said.
Defence Minister Rob Nicholson has called the tab “grossly excessive,” especially since Leslie moved only a few blocks away from his old home in Ottawa.
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