An Ontario MPP who left the Progressive Conservative Party amid Chinese interference allegations has been using party leader Doug Ford’s imagery as he campaigns as an Independent in the Don Valley North riding of Toronto in the provincial election.
The video features Ford in March 2023 saying “we just want Vincent to clear his name and get back with the team.” Ke’s campaign print material also carries similar words and imagery featuring Ford.
One resident of the Don Valley North riding also shared with The Epoch Times a text message from an unidentified sender saying “It’s Vincent Ke” and inviting them to watch Ford’s video about wanting Ke to clear his name.
Vincent Ke left the party in March 2023 while facing allegations of being involved in a Chinese interference network. Ke has denied the allegations and has sued Global News for libel.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice in October dismissed Global’s anti-SLAPP motion in the case, which argued that allowing the suit to proceed would impact the media outlet’s ability to inform the public.
The Epoch Times reached out to Ke and his campaign for comment but didn’t hear back by publication time.
The Progressive Conservatives told The Epoch Times that Ke is attempting to “mislead” voters regarding his affiliation.
“Vincent Ke was removed from the Ontario PC caucus in 2023, but continues to mislead the people of Don Valley North that he is still the candidate,” a campaign spokesperson said in an email statement.
“Only Sue Liu has the support of Doug Ford and the Ontario PC Party in Don Valley North and has a strong plan to protect Ontario.”
Elections Ontario told The Epoch Times that Ke’s action of using Ford’s image and words in the campaign “do not violate any electoral legislation regulated by Elections Ontario.”
Allegations
The Global News article that led to Ke’s departure from the party cited two Privy Council Office (PCO) intelligence reports and other unnamed sources “with knowledge of the investigation into Beijing’s covert efforts during the 2019 federal election.”The article said that neither PCO report identified Ke by name, but that the sources told the publication that Ke served as a “financial intermediary” by receiving $50,000 from the Chinese Consulate in Toronto. The publication said that this sum was part a larger sum of around $250,000 that was channelled through “a series of intermediaries.”
Ke has denied wrongdoing and any involvement in foreign interference, and is proceeding with his legal action against Global News.
The intelligence summary, mostly created by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), said that the funds were meant to fund foreign “threat actors.”
