Ford Conservatives gave fake invoice and robocall company $1.7 million

Fake invoices sent by Ford’s party could potentially violate federal law

ESSEX — NDP Ethics critic Taras Natyshak says Doug Ford’s Conservative party needs to answer questions about their relationship with Responsive Marketing Group after that company helped Ford send Ontarians fake “invoices” this week. According to Elections Ontario filings, the Ontario PCs have paid Responsive Marketing Group at least $1.7 million in the last two years alone.

Responsive Marketing Group was also involved in the Robocall Scandal of 2011. That was an attempt to prevent people from voting by giving them false information about a change in their polling location, and staff for Responsive revealed they were forced to participate.

“Why is Doug Ford associating with, much less paying $1.7 million to this company? And what is Doug Ford buying with these $1.7 million in contracts?” asked Natyhsak. “I am calling on the Ford PCs to release details of these contracts today.”

The fake invoices Ford’s party sent to Ontarians this week — reportedly for hundreds or even $1,000 dollars — may violate federal law. The Solicitations by Mail Regulations require anything that looks like an invoice, but isn’t, to have a warning in “boldface capital letters” that the recipient is not required to pay. Horwath has referred the matter to authorities, and says Ford needs to return any money collected through the fake invoices.

Background

Data from the PC Party of Ontario annual financial returns

Year: 2019
Type of Supplier: Consulting
Supplier Name: Responsive Marketing Group
Description: Fundraising
Amount Paid by PC Party of Ontario: $1,092,927.92

Year: 2019
Type of Supplier: Consulting
Supplier Name: Responsive Marketing Group
Description: other - outreach
Amount Paid by PC Party of Ontario: $15,636.28

Year: 2020
Type of Supplier: Consulting
Supplier Name: Responsive Marketing Group
Description: Fundraising
Amount Paid by PC Party of Ontario: $592,051.61

Year: 2020
Type of Supplier: Consulting
Supplier Name: Responsive Marketing Group
Description: Other - Office & Admin
Amount Paid by PC Party of Ontario: $36,150.18

Total: $1,736,765.99