Did Thanigasalam break the rules? Ethics watchdog investigates

Plus: Deputy Ministers shuffled

Good Thursday morning. This is Queen’s Park Observer.

ABOVE THE FOLD

First in Queen’s Park Observer — Integrity Commissioner J. DAVID WAKE has launched an investigation into whether VIJAY THANIGASALAM broke parliamentary convention by using his constituency office for partisan purposes.

“I have decided to conduct an inquiry under section 31 of the [Members’ Integrity Act],” Wake wrote to NDP Ethics critic TARAS NATYSHAK late last month.

Catch up on the background here. The gist: Natyshak had filed a complaint alleging Thanigasalam (Scarborough—Rouge Park) misused his constit office resources to promote ALICIA VIANGA, who’s running for the PC Party in neighbouring Scarborough—Guildwood.

According to Natyshak’s sworn affidavit, Thanigasalam and the PC Scarborough caucus — CHRISTINA MITAS, RAYMOND CHO, and ARIS BABIKIAN — hosted a virtual town-hall event to talk about Covid vaccines. Mitas introduced Vianga as “our candidate” and later on, attendees received thank-you emails from Thanigasa…