安省进步保守党领导人竞选: Doug Ford获胜
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不选Christine, 她拿了韦恩自由党的钱，选了她，她也是自由党第二。而且她做了这么多年，关系复杂，不可能改革省保守党的。她也老了，没力气坚持下去，完成她的计划。所以她定是短视的。不要选她！
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不选Caroline Mouruley, 她是又一个官二代，与土豆一样，活得太自在，会任人摆布。党内辩论会上，她都不知所云，面对韦恩，估计她只有逃跑的份儿
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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/new...idate-130000-to-drop-lawsuit/article38178325/
Senior Ontario Progressive Conservative officials discussed paying a disgruntled candidate $130,000 to drop a lawsuit if he agreed not to co-operate with a criminal investigation into a disputed nomination race.
The officials discussed reimbursing Jeff Peller, one of three Tory hopefuls defeated in a Hamilton-area nomination race last May, for his campaign expenses plus his legal fees, while acknowledging there may have been "illegal" activity, according to e-mails obtained by QP Briefing, a publication that monitors the Ontario legislature.
The e-mail chain is among members of former Tory leader Patrick Brown's inner circle and has been verified by The Globe and Mail. The e-mails show that a lawyer for the PC Party proposed funnelling money to Mr. Peller through Snover Dhillon, a businessman who has ties to Mr. Brown. But that proposal was blocked by Alykhan Velshi, who is now interim leader Vic Fedeli's chief of staff.
Related: Ontario PC leadership vote opens amid concerns over online process
Read more: The double-edged sword of being Caroline Mulroney, the famous political neophyte
The e-mails state that Mr. Peller spent $78,000 in campaign costs, roughly $30,000 in legal fees and paid Mr. Dhillon $22,000, but does not explain for what. The party's lawyer, Mike Richmond, offers several options to move forward, including having Mr. Dhillon repay the $22,000 or having that portion also covered by the party.
Mr. Velshi in the e-mails, dated Oct. 6, 2017, and marked confidential, takes issue with a suggestion that money could flow from the party to Mr. Dhillon to be passed on to Mr. Peller, calling it "indefensible."
"I don't want to pull the Mike Duffy card, but this is far worse than Duffy," he said, referring to the $90,000 the senator received from a former Conservative official to repay expense claims that had become controversial.
Ultimately, a deal was reached with Mr. Peller, but the terms are not known.
Mr. Peller told The Globe on Thursday that he could not respond to questions about the e-mails, including references to alleged illegal activity that is not explained. "I'm bound by the terms of my settlement and can't comment," he said. His lawyer, Paul Ingrassia, said Mr. Peller "is bound by an obligation of confidentiality."
STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
Hamilton Police launched its investigation last June into allegations of forgery and fraud in the vote. Mr. Peller said he did ultimately speak with police. "I was only asked a couple questions."
He said he is "not 100-per-cent sure" who Mr. Dhillon is but wouldn't say whether he gave him money. "I can't comment on that, can't comment on the e-mails."
Mr. Dhillon and Mr. Brown could not be reached for comment. Mr. Velshi, who was Mr. Brown's chief of staff, declined to comment.
When asked about the e-mails by The Globe, Mr. Richmond reiterated what he told QP Briefing, saying that in his practice "it would be my job to synthesize all the different instructions I'm getting and requests I'm getting from people who were actually involved." He declined to elaborate.
Mr. Peller was one of two unsuccessful candidates in the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas nomination race who sued the PC Party, alleging that widespread ballot-box stuffing torpedoed their bids. The other candidate, Vikram Singh, a lawyer, also reached a settlement. In a joint statement on Jan. 24 with Mr. Brown, he said he was withdrawing his lawsuit. (Hours later, Mr. Brown was forced to resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct.) "On the evidence that has been provided to me, I now accept that PC Party officials, staff and volunteers were dedicated to achieving the fairest result for the Hamilton community, and can no longer maintain that there was any untoward behaviour on their part," Mr. Singh said in the statement.
When asked by The Globe on Thursday whether he received a payment as part of his settlement, Mr. Singh said: "Given that the matter has been resolved, I cannot comment on specifics at this time." The Hamilton-area nomination was one of 13 plagued by complaints of voter fraud and broken rules, according to a Globe tally. The party has decided to overturn two of the nominations – in Ottawa West-Nepean and Scarborough Centre.
Hamilton Police said the investigation is continuing. Constable Lorraine Edwards declined to comment on the e-mails.
Mr. Dhillon made headlines in 2011 after he sat behind former prime minister Stephen Harper's family at a rally in Brampton, Ont. He was facing a criminal charge for allegedly fraudulent credit- and debit-card withdrawals at the time.
He also met with Mr. Brown at an event in India in January, 2011, and attended a Tory convention in Halifax a month later, appearing to violate bail conditions set in December, 2010, that barred him from leaving Ontario. In 2007, he sponsored a trip to India for Mr. Brown, then a federal MP, two other MPs and one of Mr. Brown's sisters.
Tanya Granic Allen says she aims to be a voice for those who felt “disenfranchised” by former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown. Leadership candidates for Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives spoke after their second debate on Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS
FOLLOW KAREN HOWLETT AND JILL MAHONEY ON TWITTER @KAHOWLETT @JILLSMAHONEY
REPORT AN ERROR EDITORIAL CODE OF CONDUCT LICENSING OPTIONS
As of December 20, 2017, we have temporarily removed commenting from our articles as we switch to a new provider. We are behind schedule, but we are still working hard to bring you a new commenting system as soon as possible. If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to feedback@globeandmail.com. If you want to write a letter to the editor, please forward to letters@globeandmail.com.
Ontario PC leadership vote opens amid concerns over online process
PROVINCIAL POLITICS
Former Ontario Tory leader Patrick Brown discussed $375,000 deal with future PC candidate
ONTARIO POLITICS
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TRENDING
Senior Ontario Progressive Conservative officials discussed paying a disgruntled candidate $130,000 to drop a lawsuit if he agreed not to co-operate with a criminal investigation into a disputed nomination race.
The officials discussed reimbursing Jeff Peller, one of three Tory hopefuls defeated in a Hamilton-area nomination race last May, for his campaign expenses plus his legal fees, while acknowledging there may have been "illegal" activity, according to e-mails obtained by QP Briefing, a publication that monitors the Ontario legislature.
The e-mail chain is among members of former Tory leader Patrick Brown's inner circle and has been verified by The Globe and Mail. The e-mails show that a lawyer for the PC Party proposed funnelling money to Mr. Peller through Snover Dhillon, a businessman who has ties to Mr. Brown. But that proposal was blocked by Alykhan Velshi, who is now interim leader Vic Fedeli's chief of staff.
Related: Ontario PC leadership vote opens amid concerns over online process
Read more: The double-edged sword of being Caroline Mulroney, the famous political neophyte
The e-mails state that Mr. Peller spent $78,000 in campaign costs, roughly $30,000 in legal fees and paid Mr. Dhillon $22,000, but does not explain for what. The party's lawyer, Mike Richmond, offers several options to move forward, including having Mr. Dhillon repay the $22,000 or having that portion also covered by the party.
Mr. Velshi in the e-mails, dated Oct. 6, 2017, and marked confidential, takes issue with a suggestion that money could flow from the party to Mr. Dhillon to be passed on to Mr. Peller, calling it "indefensible."
"I don't want to pull the Mike Duffy card, but this is far worse than Duffy," he said, referring to the $90,000 the senator received from a former Conservative official to repay expense claims that had become controversial.
Ultimately, a deal was reached with Mr. Peller, but the terms are not known.
Mr. Peller told The Globe on Thursday that he could not respond to questions about the e-mails, including references to alleged illegal activity that is not explained. "I'm bound by the terms of my settlement and can't comment," he said. His lawyer, Paul Ingrassia, said Mr. Peller "is bound by an obligation of confidentiality."
STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
Hamilton Police launched its investigation last June into allegations of forgery and fraud in the vote. Mr. Peller said he did ultimately speak with police. "I was only asked a couple questions."
He said he is "not 100-per-cent sure" who Mr. Dhillon is but wouldn't say whether he gave him money. "I can't comment on that, can't comment on the e-mails."
Mr. Dhillon and Mr. Brown could not be reached for comment. Mr. Velshi, who was Mr. Brown's chief of staff, declined to comment.
When asked about the e-mails by The Globe, Mr. Richmond reiterated what he told QP Briefing, saying that in his practice "it would be my job to synthesize all the different instructions I'm getting and requests I'm getting from people who were actually involved." He declined to elaborate.
Mr. Peller was one of two unsuccessful candidates in the Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas nomination race who sued the PC Party, alleging that widespread ballot-box stuffing torpedoed their bids. The other candidate, Vikram Singh, a lawyer, also reached a settlement. In a joint statement on Jan. 24 with Mr. Brown, he said he was withdrawing his lawsuit. (Hours later, Mr. Brown was forced to resign amid allegations of sexual misconduct.) "On the evidence that has been provided to me, I now accept that PC Party officials, staff and volunteers were dedicated to achieving the fairest result for the Hamilton community, and can no longer maintain that there was any untoward behaviour on their part," Mr. Singh said in the statement.
When asked by The Globe on Thursday whether he received a payment as part of his settlement, Mr. Singh said: "Given that the matter has been resolved, I cannot comment on specifics at this time." The Hamilton-area nomination was one of 13 plagued by complaints of voter fraud and broken rules, according to a Globe tally. The party has decided to overturn two of the nominations – in Ottawa West-Nepean and Scarborough Centre.
Hamilton Police said the investigation is continuing. Constable Lorraine Edwards declined to comment on the e-mails.
Mr. Dhillon made headlines in 2011 after he sat behind former prime minister Stephen Harper's family at a rally in Brampton, Ont. He was facing a criminal charge for allegedly fraudulent credit- and debit-card withdrawals at the time.
He also met with Mr. Brown at an event in India in January, 2011, and attended a Tory convention in Halifax a month later, appearing to violate bail conditions set in December, 2010, that barred him from leaving Ontario. In 2007, he sponsored a trip to India for Mr. Brown, then a federal MP, two other MPs and one of Mr. Brown's sisters.
Tanya Granic Allen says she aims to be a voice for those who felt “disenfranchised” by former Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown. Leadership candidates for Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives spoke after their second debate on Wednesday.THE CANADIAN PRESS
FOLLOW KAREN HOWLETT AND JILL MAHONEY ON TWITTER @KAHOWLETT @JILLSMAHONEY
REPORT AN ERROR EDITORIAL CODE OF CONDUCT LICENSING OPTIONS
As of December 20, 2017, we have temporarily removed commenting from our articles as we switch to a new provider. We are behind schedule, but we are still working hard to bring you a new commenting system as soon as possible. If you are looking to give feedback on our new site, please send it along to feedback@globeandmail.com. If you want to write a letter to the editor, please forward to letters@globeandmail.com.
Ontario PC leadership vote opens amid concerns over online process
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Former Ontario Tory leader Patrick Brown discussed $375,000 deal with future PC candidate
ONTARIO POLITICS
PC Party ready to ‘move on’ after Brown debacle, Fedeli says
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Ontario PC leadership candidates Tanya Granic Allen, Caroline Mulroney, Christine Elliott and Doug Ford after participating in a debate in Ottawa. (Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
By Star Editorial Board
Fri., March 2, 2018
It’s just as well that the campaign for the leadership of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives is so short.
The candidates have been running so fast to the right that it’s hard to imagine how far they’d get if they had to duke it out for a few more weeks.
Fortunately this spectacle is almost over: PC party members started voting online on Friday and the result will be announced next Saturday afternoon.
Already one thing is clear. Whoever emerges as the winner, she or he will be inheriting the leadership of a party that’s nothing like the Progressive Conservatives of the old days – which is to say, about six weeks ago.
Those PCs were cruising toward a very likely victory in the general election set for June 7.
They had figured out, after three straight losses to the Liberals, a basic truth about Ontario elections – they are won in the middle ground, where most of the voters are.
But the leadership contest has shown this was never a deep conviction shared by the party’s grassroots. It was a facade imposed by the late, mostly unlamented Patrick Brown, in the form of his election platform, “The People’s Guarantee.”
It wasn’t a bad look. The Brown PCs would have gone along with a carbon tax to combat climate change and raise revenue, introduced some ambitious social measures, left well-enough alone on the touchy issue of sex education, and not made a fetish out of balancing the province’s books right away.
That’s all now in the trash can. The three women and one man competing to lead the PCs have been trying to outdo each other in running to the right.
For two of them, Doug Ford and Tanya Granic Allen, it’s clearly a matter of fundamental conviction. The second (and last) televised leadership debate in Ottawa showed Ford and Granic Allen pressing home their populist, right-wing themes.
For Ford, opposition to a carbon tax (indeed all taxes) and the old chestnut about saving billions by rooting out unspecified “waste” at Queen’s Park. For Granic Allen, opposition to the provincial sex-education curriculum, “corruption” in the PC party itself, and of course the hated carbon tax. Plus a dramatic but foolish promise on wind turbines, namely to “rip ’em right out of the ground.”
They are the true believers. You wouldn’t expect anything else from them. The more dispiriting spectacle has been watching the other two candidates, Christine Elliott and Caroline Mulroney, join the flight to the right.
Both of them, after hemming and hawing a bit in the opening days of the campaign, reject the carbon tax that was supposed to fund the party’s other promises. Under pressure from Ford and Granic Allen, both are pandering to the knee-jerk pro-austerity instincts of much of the party’s base.
Mulroney, to her credit, has held the line on sex-ed, saying she wouldn’t revisit the curriculum brought in by the Wynne government. In the context of this contest that shows a commendable degree of political courage.
Of course, this is a leadership race and the candidates are competing, not for the votes of all Ontarians, but for the very limited audience of PC party activists. In that universe, anti-sex ed, anti-carbon tax, and anti-government in general clearly sells well.
But everything this year is on fast forward. The new leader will have to pivot as fast as an Olympic figure skater after March 10 to appeal to the whole electorate, with just 90 days or so to go before the election.
It will make a big difference if the winner is Doug Ford, and the right-wing message is carried by a dyed-in-the-wool, convinced populist, or the new PC leader is, say, Christine Elliott, who might well tack back to the centre once the leadership is secured.
But regardless, voters now have a much better idea of where the PC party is really coming from. It isn’t the party of the People’s Guarantee, a party prepared to take climate change seriously and commit real money to a genuine social problem like mental health.
It turns out that its true nature really is much more conservative than progressive. And even if party members don’t go with a true believer, their new champion will likely be someone willing to trim her ideology as needed to flatter the right wing.
That will be something for voters to keep in mind when they go to the polls on June 7.
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