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Stiles complaint of Premier on pause temporarily

By Staff Mar 21, 2023 | 1:02 PM
Premier Doug Ford speaks at Queen’s Park on Bill 28. Nov. 1, 2022

Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner is pausing his investigation into a complaint made by NDP leader Marit Stiles over Premier Doug Ford’s conduct related to two Ford family events.

In an interim report, David Wake says he wants to complete a probe related to the purchase of Greenbelt land by developers that have ties to the PC party.

Stiles questions the connection to a Ford family wedding attended last year by some developers.

In his report, Wake repeated what Ford has publically stated about the week, that the developers and their families were long-time family friends.

Wake added that in his discussion with the Premier, Ford stated he was not involved in the planning for his daughter’s wedding and left it to his wife and daughters and their friends.

He notes the Premier also denied receiving any financial contribution from any developer or lobbyist at the wedding or from those who attended previous wedding social.

“Viewed through the lens of the Act, I offered Premier Ford my opinion that there was nothing wrong with having invited personal friends, who happen to be government stakeholders, to either event, provided the provisions of the Act were adhered to, which includes not revealing confidential government information,” write Wake.

Wake adds the gift rule in Act only applies to government members and not to their spouse or adult children.

However, Wake says there is still the question of whether the Premier or someone in his government used their influence to further the interests of friends and donors in the Greenbelt.

Wake says he is now gathering further information and plans to talk with numerous witnesses regarding that issue.

He does not give a timetable as to when he would release a final report.