Despite the Green for Life garbage truck being clean enough to eat off of, the Ontario Liberal Party thinks they smell something fishy in Tory candidate Doug Holyday’s campaign use of a garbage truck contracted to the City of Toronto.

A July 26 letter from Blaney McMurtry LLP counsel Jack B. Siegel is asking Ontario’s chief electoral officer Greg Essensa to investigate Holyday’s use of the garbage truck at a July 24 campaign stop in Etobicoke--Lakeshore.

Siegel states it is the party’s understanding Holyday requested the truck in his capacity as Toronto’s deputy mayor and that it was provided free of charge.

GFL's chief executive Patrick Dovigi told the Toronto Star last week he was unaware of the circumstances around which Holyday requested the truck, adding: “When the deputy mayor calls and ask for a truck, we supply it.”

Siegel maintains “the gratuitous provision of a truck in this manner constitutes a contribution of goods and services to Mr. Holyday, and as such constitutes a ‘campaign expense.” The letter also insists Holyday used the truck for advertising purposes and the value of the truck should be included with his advertising expenses when filed in several months time.

As deputy mayor, Holyday was instrumental in working with Toronto mayor Rob Ford to privatize garbage collection west of Yonge Street beginning in August 2012 to save an estimated $11 million annually for the city.

In response, Holyday told The Star it was “pretty petty” of his Liberal opponent and fellow Toronto city councillor Peter Milczyn to complain about the truck’s use in the photo-op, noting “it is an advantage to be deputy mayor, and a councillor here for over 30 years, I guess.”

Looking ahead, Siegel also requested Elections Ontario consider whether statutory amendments to the Election Finances Act would be necessary surrounding campaign contributions from a municipal body.

Happening: OLP smell something fishy in garbage truck use

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