{"id":15176,"date":"2025-02-05T12:22:07","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T12:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/ford-campaign-manager-partnered-with-u-s-firm-that-received-ontario-government-contract\/"},"modified":"2025-02-05T12:22:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T12:22:07","slug":"ford-campaign-manager-partnered-with-u-s-firm-that-received-ontario-government-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/05\/ford-campaign-manager-partnered-with-u-s-firm-that-received-ontario-government-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Ford campaign manager partnered with U.S. firm that received Ontario government contract"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As potential tariffs on Canadian goods put Ontario\u2019s relationship with America under the spotlight, political opponents claim those close to Progressive Conservative Party Leader Doug Ford may be benefitting from his approach to U.S. policy.<\/p>\n

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Weeks before Ford called a snap election campaign<\/a> with the threat of tariffs looming, his campaign director signed an \u201cexclusive partnership\u201d with a Washington D.C.-based lobbying firm.<\/p>\n

That firm, Capitol Counsel, had recently received a government contract under Ford\u2019s past administration for up to $1.3 million to help position Ontario with the next American administration.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is so like Doug Ford to take care of his rich friends and rich insiders first rather than the people of Ontario, to provide the very basics for people,\u201d Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The deal signed in August by Ford with Capitol Counsel included a stipulation the American company \u201cdevise a plan for the first 100 days of the new Congress and administration.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The agreement runs until July and also includes a plan to work as a key consultant ahead of trade negotiations between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.<\/p>\n

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Ever since signing that agreement, Ontario under Ford has been operating a full-on charm offensive with the United States, paying to run a multi-million dollar campaign of commercials across U.S. networks, sending ministers to Washington D.C. and arranging meetings between Ford and several governors.<\/p>\n

Months after the Progressive Conservatives signed off on a contract between the U.S. lobbying firm and the Ontario government, Capitol Counsel announced it had formed a partnership with a company run by the chair of Ford\u2019s re-election campaign.<\/p>\n

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