TORONTO – A former Progressive Conservative legislator says he’s taken his concerns about alleged unregistered lobbying by Premier Doug Ford‘s friends and advisers to Ontario’s integrity watchdog.
Randy Hillier says he had discussed those concerns with Ford before the Progressive Conservatives kicked him out of their caucus earlier this month.
Hillier – who returned to the Ontario legislature today for the first time since he was turfed – says he cannot discuss specifics about the allegations for fear of impacting any potential investigation by the integrity commissioner.
He also alleges that Ford’s unelected chief of staff exerts inappropriate influence over the government’s operations and is constraining the voice of elected politicians.
The government has dismissed Hillier’s allegations as lies, and said he was removed from the party because he wasn’t a team player.
The integrity commissioner’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.