Ontario PCs spending donor money on outrageous items

Elections Ontario filings reviewed by the Toronto Star reveal a number of Ontario PC riding ***ociations have been spending donor money on some unusually lavish items. Sheila Gunn Reid read through the highlights on Monday’s Rebel Roundup — and both she and Lise Merle had thoughts.

The list includes $15,000 on organic gr***-fed premium beef “gently raised in the rolling pastures of King City” — complete, Sheila noted, with an adoption certificate from the farm where the beef originated.

“You know it’s expensive when they give you an adoption certificate,” replied Lise. There was also $3,400 on oysters and Japanese tapas, $485 at a Toronto establishment boasting the largest selection of tequila in the country, and $1,500 on axe throwing paired with chicken tenders.

The most striking individual case was the riding ***ociation for Vaughan-Woodbridge, represented by Associate Solicitor General Michael Tibolo — not even a cabinet minister — which billed $47,000 in each of the last two years for an annual chestnut roast fundraiser.

“If it was a fundraiser and you need $50,000 upfront to run it every year,” Lise said, “I don’t think that’s a good representation of a good fundraiser.” Another MPP’s riding ***ociation ran up $70,000 in fundraiser costs over two years, noted Sheila.

Both hosts were quick to recall how the same political culture that once made a federal minister’s career-defining scandal out of a $16 gl*** of orange juice is now apparently comfortable with $15,000 beef and $3,400 oyster bills charged to donor accounts.

“Take me back,” Lise said.

Oda — the former federal Heritage Minister dinged by Conservatives and the media alike over a hotel minibar orange juice — has been retroactively vindicated by the current standard.

Reflecting on an iconic photo of the former Conservative MP taking a drag from a cigarette while wearing sungl***es, Sheila said Oda’s problem was “that was she dangerously cool in a time of boring button-down, sweater-vest wearing Conservatives.”

“In a world of Karens,” Lise said, “be a Bev.”

Rebel Roundup airs Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11 a.m. MT / 1 p.m. ET.