Vaughan cabinet minister Tibollo slammed for appearing to campaign for Di Biase

As overseer of the OPP, criticized for appearing with someone who is part of ongoing investigation

Yorkregion.com
October 22, 2018
Tim Kelly

Minister of Community Safety Michael Tibollo, who is responsible for the OPP, is receiving harsh criticism in Vaughan and at Queen’s Park for several local campaign appearances with a municipal candidate who is part of an ongoing OPP investigation.

Tibollo, elected Vaughan-Woodbridge MPP in June and appointed to cabinet by Doug Ford shortly thereafter, has been seen in a number of campaign appearances with Vaughan regional council candidate Eliana Di Biase.

Di Biase, while not the prime target of the investigation into a lakefront cottage OPP investigators are looking into – her husband Michael is the centre of the probe started in 2015 due to his decades on Vaughan council before he resigned in 2017 after the integrity commissioner found him guilty of sexually harassing a city employee – is listed on the Ontario numbered company that owns the cottage property. She is also named on some construction paperwork.

Tibollo appeared with Di Biase recently at the East Woodbridge Seniors Club where the pair appeared to campaign together. He is also seen with Di Biase at a gala event at the Terrace Banquet Centre as well as at a Caritas Centre Foundation event at the Veneto Centre.

Tibollo was questioned by NDP MPP Taras Natyshak on Thursday in the legislature about campaigning for Di Biase and asked whether he believed it was appropriate.

“Mr. Speaker as the minister should know the OPP’s Economic Crime and Corruption Unit has been conducting an investigation concerning a waterfront cottage owned by Vaughan council candidate Eliana Di Biase,” said Natyshak.

“The OPP are investigating links between work done on this cottage by contractors and over $150 million in contracts granted by Mrs. Di Biase’s husband to those same contractors.

“Why does the minister responsible for the OPP think that it’s appropriate to be campaigning for a candidate that is currently at the centre of an OPP investigation?”

Tibollo said, “This morning I did send a letter to the individual in question as it has been brought to my attention that she has been using my photo on her campaign brochure.”

He added, “I’ve stated publicly on several occasions that it is not my intention to endorse any single candidate during the municipal election.”

Regional council candidate Richard Lorello, who is one of nine others who are running for Vaughan regional council’s three available seats and who is competing with Di Biase for a seat, believes when you have “the minister of community safety who oversees the OPP, going around the city to various community centres, that gives the appearance of bias by supporting her.”

Lorello said it was “not proper,” and “inappropriate” that Tibollo, who oversees the OPP was appearing with Di Biase at campaign events.

Tibollo’s office did not respond to a request for comment.