Premier Doug Ford’s former chief of staff, Dean French — who “resigned” after a patronage scandal — has now parted ways with the Progressive Conservative re-election campaign, the Star has learned.French embarrassed Ford by trying to install his wife’s cousin and his son’s friend in six-figure overseas government postings on Thursday.Eighteen hours later, the premier revoked the appointments and, on Friday night, the embattled chief stepped down.The cronyism fiasco continues to roil the Tories, who are distancing themselves from French.“Mr. French is no longer part of the election readiness committee. He has returned to the private sector,” Marcus Mattinson, the Ontario PC Party director of communications, said Monday.But Tory staffers were stunned when French showed up for work Monday despite his resignation.“He’s in the building right now,” a startled PC insider told the Star.French allegedly “read the Riot Act to all (premier’s office) staff and then in a separate meeting with chiefs,” said the source, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal discussions.“The implied threat was make no mistake I still control things,” the insider said.Another high-ranking Tory said the situation in the premier’s office continues to be chaotic.“When you leave a job under a cloud you’re kind of supposed to stay away,” said the insider.Ford’s office played down his return.“Dean French came to Queen’s Park this morning to pack up his office. He said good-bye to staff, thanked them for their hard work and continued service to the premier and the people of Ontario,” the premier’s office said Monday.“Dean French is returning to the private sector.”French, an Etobicoke insurance broker, quit Friday after two cabinet ministers — one female, the other male — urged Ford to fire him.“They told ...
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