Doug Ford denies dissension in PC party after firing of caucus chair over pensions, jet fiasco - BERITAJA

Premier Doug Ford is denying immoderate dissension successful the Ontario Progressive Conservative ranks weeks aft firing his caucus chair complete a heated confrontation about MPP pensions and the acquisition of the backstage jet.

BERITAJA was first to reveal specifications of a closed-door caucus gathering astatine Queen’s Park successful May, successful which Ford faced nonstop criticisms for his determination to bargain the $28.9 cardinal level and the toll it took connected the remainder of the party.

Multiple sources said PC MPP Will Bouma, successful his domiciled arsenic PC caucus chair, confronted the premier about his determination to scrap consequential changes to the MPP pension scheme and linked it to the pitchy fiasco starring to his ouster.

For about six months, MPPs astatine Queen’s Park person been privately grumbling about the recently introduced pension plan, which didn’t return into relationship each individual’s years of work successful the legislature.

MPPs were told they would person to salary hundreds of thousands of dollars if they wanted their pension plans to bespeak their legislative tenure, which would consequence successful a larger status payout.

While the premier was prepared to settee the rumor pinch a $35 cardinal pension top-up fund, Ford reneged aft the blowback complete the jet.

Sources said Ford expressed concerns about further antagonistic media sum because it would beryllium viewed arsenic “entitlement” and “enrichment.”

The caucus confrontation, which was delivered from the podium astatine the beforehand of the room and lasted about 5 minutes, saw Bouma definitive disappointment connected behalf of his colleagues and suggested that the level contention impacted the full caucus.

Shortly after, Bouma was called into a gathering pinch the premier who, sources claim, said the show was “disloyal and disrespectful.” Bouma was instantly stripped of the position, but was allowed to clasp his parliamentary adjunct title.

Asked about the firing, up of his regular Tuesday caucus meeting, Ford said Bouma’s position successful the authorities remains strong.

“Will is simply a awesome member, he served (as caucus chair) 4 years,” Ford said. “Will’s walking successful the U.S. pinch me. He’s my parliamentary assistant. He’s a awesome guy.”

Ford stressed he has a “tight team” and suggested he isn’t worried about soul support from the party.

Critics, however, opportunity the rumor highlights really overmuch of an effect the pitchy ungraded has had connected the premier’s tolerance from moreover members of his ain caucus.

“The premier’s ain caucus can’t tummy that he bought a backstage luxury pitchy and that he chose that arsenic his priority,” said NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

“This premier is truthful retired of touch … this is simply a bully denotation that moreover his ain caucus is trying to show him that and he won’t listen.”

Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said Bouma is simply a “well respected” 3 word MPP who “paid the price” for confronting the Premier.

“That’s what happens successful this authorities if you speak truth to power,” Fraser said.

While Ford was tightlipped connected Bouma’s firing, he asked reporters to salary attraction to the applause he would person arsenic he entered the room arsenic a motion of statement support.

“We person a tight group. Just perceive erstwhile I, well, let’s conscionable spot really they dainty maine erstwhile I locomotion done that door, guaranteed,” Ford said.

The premier was instantly met pinch rapturous applause from the PC caucus, moreover arsenic immoderate privately expressed feelings of being silenced.