The French connection
And Ford's "done" with Covid
ABOVE THE FOLD
A THROWBACK — DEAN FRENCH — embattled former chief of staff to Premier DOUG FORD — has waded into the so-called freedom convoy controversy.
In a juicy plot twist, Ottawa Mayor JIM WATSON confirmed French led the back-channel negotiations between the city and occupiers, which wound up in a deal that will see hundreds of trucks move from residential areas to the streets around Parliament Hill.
French laid out the conditions to CTV journalist Evan Solomon, saying he was operating as a private citizen and “would not (and did not) be speaking to anyone in the federal and provincial government.”
“I want to stress that no one in the Ford Cabinet, PO or Doug himself knew I was doing this,” French told Solomon.
French resigned as Ford’s chief in the summer of 2019 after leading his rocky first year in office, which saw French censured for his involvement in the now-defunct appointment of Ford friend RON TAVERNER as OPP c…