MPP Randy Hillier taking complaints to integrity commissioner

MPP Randy Hilliersayshe has taken concerns about illegal lobbying to the province's integrity commissioner, and that there is a culture of "fear and intimidation"inside Premier Doug Ford's government.

Hillier spoke Tuesday as he returned to Queen's Park to sit as an independent representative ofLanarkFrontenacKingston.

The Progressive Conservative partysuspended Hillierfrom theircaucus in Februaryforallegedly saying "yada, yada, yada" to a parent of a child with autism, whichhe denies.

Hillier was thenpermanently removed him from caucus earlier this month.

Integrity investigation

At a news conference Tuesday, Hilliersaid his ouster had more to do with his unwillingness to submit to the party's rules, and his concerns about illegal lobbying in the premier's office.

He said he has brought those concerns to the province's integrity commissioner, and thathe couldn't speak furtherabout the issue to protect that investigation.

"There is no question in my mind that the premature or public revealing of information that I have could be prejudicial in any potential investigation," he said.

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PC MPPs are being hamstrung from even speaking or raising proposals in caucus and cannot speak in the legislature without approval from the premier's staff, Hillier claimed.

He said he will be able to accomplish more as an independent MPP.

"To be in a PC caucus under the current administration is to subvert one's own very purpose in being an MPP, and I am certain I will have a far greater voice outside of the PC caucus as an independent member," he said.

OtherMPPs are staying silent, he said.

"It is clear there is an understanding by a lot of people down here in Queen's Park that there is a culture of fear and intimidation, and different people respond to that in different ways."

'A culture of fear and intimidation'

6 years ago

Duration 0:48

MPP Randy Hillier told a news conference on Tuesday that there is a culture of "fear and intimidation" inside Premier Doug Ford's government. PC House leader Todd Smith spoke earlier in the day about why Hillier was no longer a member of caucus.

'Not the government people expected'

Hillieralso said the premier's chief of staff, Dean French, is chairing cabinet committees and taking on a much bigger role than an unelected staffer should.

He said he is not the only MPP who is frustrated with the way the government is acting.

"This is not the government that people expected. It's certainly not the government that I expected," he said.

"There is a significant amount of disappointment that members are being frustrated and disrupted."

Not a team player

PC House leader Todd Smith said Hillier simply did not work with the party and thatHillierhas always marched to the beat of his own drum.

"The reason Randy is not part of our team any longer is because Randy did not want to be part of the team," he said.

Smith also said Hillier sparred with previous party leaders and that Ford made every effort to keep him inside the party's tent.

"The premier has reached out to Randy more than other caucus members and tried to make him part of the team."