The Liberals have released an audio recording that appears to show PC Leader Doug Ford telling people at a Tim Hortons they don’t have to pay for party memberships while out recruiting with Etobicoke Centre candidate Kinga Surma.The recording was taken by a man who was approached by Ford and Surma back in 2016.Ford took an “extraordinary degree of involvement” in Surma’s campaign, said Liberal campaign manager Deb Matthews, adding the party took steps to “independently verify” the audio.Read more:NDP calls for Elections Ontario to probe 12 PC nominations As Horwath’s poll numbers rise, Doug Ford focuses his attacks on the NDPHorwath and Wynne trade shots over labour policyThe audio indicates memberships were being offered for free and that new members would not be required to fill out forms — against party rules. The Star has learned that the bitter nomination contest in Etobicoke Centre, which pit Surma against incumbent candidate Pina Martino, has been a source of internal party strife since it was decided in November 2016.Just days before losing the nomination to Surma, Martino filed a formal complaint with the party, accusing Surma of “discreditable conduct” and alleging Ford followed her home and tried to intimidate her, according to an email Martino wrote to the party’s lawyer.The email, which was recently obtained by the Star, is dated Nov. 18, 2016 — four days before the nomination vote — and is addressed to Mike Richmond, counsel for the PC party.In it Martino says she has been “subject to attempts to intimidate me by Doug Ford,” including him “following me home after I had attended to personal business at 22 Division of the Toronto Police Service today. Further, he waited in the vicinity of my home and followed me a second time as I attended to other business.”Contacted by phone last week, Martino refused to comment. “I don’t want to talk t ...
|