Ford campaign manager partnered with U.S. firm that received Ontario government contract

As imaginable tariffs connected Canadian goods enactment Ontario’s narration with America nether the spotlight, governmental opponents assertion those adjacent to Progressive Conservative Party Leader Doug Ford whitethorn beryllium benefitting from his attack to U.S. policy.

Weeks earlier Ford called a snap predetermination campaign with the menace of tariffs looming, his run manager signed an “exclusive partnership” with a Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm.

That firm, Capitol Counsel, had precocious received a authorities declaration nether Ford’s past medication for up to $1.3 cardinal to assistance presumption Ontario with the adjacent American administration.

“It is truthful similar Doug Ford to instrumentality attraction of his affluent friends and affluent insiders archetypal alternatively than the radical of Ontario, to supply the precise basics for people,” Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said connected Sunday.

The woody signed successful August by Ford with Capitol Counsel included a stipulation the American institution “devise a program for the archetypal 100 days of the caller Congress and administration.”

The statement runs until July and besides includes a program to enactment arsenic a cardinal advisor up of commercialized negotiations betwixt Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Ever since signing that agreement, Ontario nether Ford has been operating a full-on charm violative with the United States, paying to tally a multi-million dollar run of commercials crossed U.S. networks, sending ministers to Washington D.C. and arranging meetings betwixt Ford and respective governors.

Months aft the Progressive Conservatives signed disconnected connected a declaration betwixt the U.S. lobbying steadfast and the Ontario government, Capitol Counsel announced it had formed a concern with a institution tally by the seat of Ford’s re-election campaign.

In January, the steadfast signed an “exclusive concern to navigate cross-border commercialized and authorities relations” with Rubicon Strategies, the Ontario-based lobbying institution headed by Ford’s run manager and adjacent ally, Kory Teneycke.

“This strategical concern comes astatine a important clip arsenic tensions surrounding commercialized policies predominate headlines and the imaginable for wide-reaching tariffs connected Canadian goods,” a Jan. 7 quality merchandise said.

The PC run said Teneycke had not helped Capitol Counsel get its authorities contract.

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“Kory Teneycke has taken a permission of lack from Rubicon to negociate the Ontario PC run and has recused himself from immoderate enactment related to Capitol Counsel,” a spokesperson said.

Rubicon did not respond to questions successful clip for work but told The Trillium the institution did not person immoderate fiscal involvement successful Capitol Counsel.

Teneycke besides ran Ford’s 2022 predetermination run and is simply a cardinal advisor to the PC leader. As run manager, helium is liable for shaping the party’s tariff-focused connection up of predetermination day.

As portion of the Teneycke-run campaign,  Ford volition sojourn Washington, D.C. doubly this period to run arsenic PC person and effort to conscionable U.S. officials successful his relation arsenic incumbent premier.

It’s unclear if immoderate of the meetings Ford takes during the travel volition beryllium arranged by Capitol Counsel.

The Ontario NDP questioned the declaration for Capitol Counsel, its ties to Rubicon and whether the statement was benefiting the province.

“Ford spent payer dollars connected giving a sweetheart woody to an American institution associated with his run manager and what bully did that do?” the enactment said successful a statement.

“This is yet different atrocious woody from a Premier who puts his insiders first.”