SCOOP: Introducing the Ontario First Party

Plus: PO staffer heads to TBS, Grit staffers locked in for 2022, and Rickford's reconciliation

ABOVE THE FOLD

Turfed PC RANDY HILLIER is launching his own political party.

Dubbed the Ontario First Party, Hillier revealed the news at an anti-vax protest over the weekend, saying he plans to lead the nascent party and be on the ticket for June 2. Hillier also told the crowd, which was asked to sign the paperwork for accreditation, that it would be linked to the People’s Party of Canada and focused on fighting against a “cultural war” and for “freedom, justice, democracy and fairness.”

“The purple way is coming to Ontario,” Hillier proclaimed.

Per Elections Ontario, the name “Ontario First Party” has been reserved by PAUL MALETTA, a PPC operative and head of a local riding association. That’s typically one of the first steps to formally registering a party — which could come with added resources and potentially a per-vote taxpayer subsidy, depending on how much share of the vote the party gets in the next election.

Cue backlash from another so-called rebel Tory faction: JIM KARAHALI…