On the eve of presenting the government’s Ontario Fall Economic Statement, Finance Minister and Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli is facing — and denying — an allegation of sexual misconduct from a former political ally.
Fedeli has been accused of inappropriate behaviour with a staffer by a fellow politician who has recently experienced the powder keg of similar allegations. Former Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown, who resigned after his alleged misdeeds came to light, is now the newly-elected mayor of Brampton and is spilling, what he says, are his former party’s secrets. Brown is releasing his own version of the events that led to his Ontario PC party leadership demise in a new book, entitled Takedown: The Attempted Political Assassination of Patrick Brown.
According to a CBC report, Brown claims a female staffer accused Fedeli of the alleged misconduct in December 2017. Brown, still the party’s leader at the time, says he told Fedeli he would be looking into the allegation. A short time later, Brown stepped down and Fedeli became interim leader. Brown says the woman who came forward to him with the claim of inappropriate conduct against Fedeli was, according to the CBC report, later “let go — for undisclosed reasons — but kept on the legislative payroll.”
When reached for comment, Fedeli’s office released the following statement:
“These accusations from Patrick Brown are categorically false and without any merit. Facts relating to Mr. Brown’s lack of credibility are well documented and on the public record, as are his motivations in using his book to pursue old grievances.
“Throughout my career I have held myself to a high ethical standard in my interactions with others. There is no validity whatsoever to any of these allegations. Any accusation or insinuation to the contrary is false and malicious. I have retained legal counsel and am prepared to take whatever action is necessary to hold any person making these false allegations accountable.”
In the days and weeks following Brown’s resignation, Fedeli worked as the interim leader of the Ontario PC party to flesh out membership improprieties in select ridings and both denounced and distanced himself (and the party) from Brown. As candidates to lead the party came forward, Fedeli recused himself from the race to carry out the day-to-day operations and business of the party. That race was eventually won by now-Premier Doug Ford.
Ford has already taken to Twitter in defence of his cabinet minister.
Minister @VictorFedeli is one of the most honourable, ethical, and decent individuals I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with. I stand behind him completely from this disgusting smear campaign. He has my full support. See his statement below. pic.twitter.com/HkwhgDdcYe
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 14, 2018
