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Ontario Trucking Association Mobilizes Members for Ford Fundraiser Amid Cash-for-Access Concerns
As Premier Doug Ford faces growing scrutiny regarding the Progressive Conservative government’s fundraising practices, a notable development has emerged from within the transportation sector. Global News has uncovered that the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is encouraging its members to buy multiple tickets to an upcoming fundraiser aimed at conveying a clear message to the premier.
This latest fundraising initiative comes in the wake of recent revelations that cabinet ministers have been assigned fundraising targets for the remainder of 2024—a move reportedly initiated by the chief fundraiser of the PC Party. The Ford government has found itself on the defensive, with critics alleging a return to “cash-for-access” fundraising methods.
In response to these criticisms, Premier Ford defended his government’s practices, asserting that fundraising is an essential aspect of pre-election politics. “We have to raise money to run an election, just like the Liberals and NDP,” Ford stated in a spontaneous conversation with Global News during an unrelated public engagement.
During a recent session in the legislature, Attorney General Doug Downey was called upon to address the cash-for-access allegations raised by opposition parties. While Downey refuted these claims, the OTA appears to be taking a different stance regarding the fundraising events organized by the Ford administration.
The OTA recently issued an online call to action, urging its members to purchase tickets for a forthcoming fundraiser featuring both Premier Ford and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria. Ticket prices for this Vaughan-area event range from $1,000 to $3,375.
The association has highlighted its worries regarding the existence of an “underground economy” within the trucking industry and issues related to compliance with provincial laws. In their appeal, the OTA emphasized the need for political engagement to influence favorable outcomes for their sector.
Mobilizing for Political Influence
The president of the Ontario Trucking Association made a public appeal via their website, emphasizing the importance of member participation: “Premier Ford and Transportation Minister Sarkaria will be hosting a small, relatively exclusive fundraiser. I am imploring all of you to attend and raise our concerns with the minister directly.”
The OTA has set a goal of selling at least 50 to 60 tickets for the event, aspiring to transform it into a significant gathering of trucking industry representatives. “Our industry supports your government, and we need your government to bring order to our sector,” the association’s message conveyed.
Moreover, the OTA encouraged ticket purchasers to inform the association about their participation, which would help quantify the financial contributions made during the fundraiser: “This is the only way to win this battle,” the association president articulated.
The OTA reassured Global News that, while it encouraged member attendance, this initiative was self-initiated and conducted without communication with government officials concerning the event. “We are very supportive of this government and the initiatives they are taking to make life better for truckers in this province. This is our way of showing continued support,” the association stated.
A representative for Minister Sarkaria clarified that the government had no role in the association’s fundraising efforts.
Political Repercussions at Queen’s Park
At Queen’s Park, the Ford administration endured significant political pressure during a recent question period, with the NDP drawing parallels between the current situation and the cash-for-access controversy that plagued the former Liberal government in 2016. NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the ministers’ actions, stating, “Isn’t this just another example of your ministers cashing in on their connections while the people of Ontario have to fight to be heard?”
In his defense, Downey sought to distinguish the Ford government’s activities from the prior Liberal scandal, asserting that ministers had merely been instructed to hold a limited number of fundraisers without specified guest lists or amounts. “It doesn’t say who to invite, it doesn’t have what amount,” Downey commented about the instructions from PC Party fundraiser Tony Miele.
As the debate continues, the implications of these fundraising practices on the relationship between the government and various interest groups, including the trucking industry, remain a focal point of political discussion in Ontario.
Source
globalnews.ca