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IT guy named in OPP docs also worked for Liberal party

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TORONTO

The “tech-savvy” boyfriend of a Liberal political staffer — identified in an OPP search warrant for the probe into deleted gas plant e-mails — was paid almost $160,000 by taxpayers over three years to provide IT services to the Liberal caucus.

Government House Leader John Milloy said the same individual had a separate contract with the Ontario Liberal Party (OLP), which was terminated this past weekend.

The OLP cancelled its contract with Peter Faist, the life partner of former Ontario Liberal deputy chief of staff Laura Miller, after an OPP warrant containing allegations of record destruction became public last week, he said.

“An internal investigation was conducted, and it was determined that the company has previously done occasional IT services work for the caucus office under the former premier and the party office,” Milloy told the legislature Monday. “The company was informed (Sunday) that its services at the party office were terminated. The proper authorities had been proactively made aware.”

Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod said the revelation pulls Premier Kathleen Wynne deeper into the document destruction scandal.

MacLeod said the person who police alleged may have been brought into the office of former premier Dalton McGuinty to wipe clean hard drives “still worked” for Wynne until Saturday, referring to the OLP contract.

“We have a lot more questions,” MacLeod said. “She better be accountable and she better be here tomorrow to answer.”

Wynne was making an announcement in Sault Ste. Marie on Monday.

According to Wynne’s office, Faist worked for Liberal caucus services between June 2010 and January 2013, but not during the new premier’s time in office.

Faist and Miller could not be reached for comment Monday. They have not responded to the Toronto Sun’s attempts to reach them since last Thursday.

Miller is currently employed by Liberal B.C. Premier Christie Clark, who told Sun News Network that her staffer is a person of “absolutely sterling character.

“And she works incredibly hard for our party and for our province. She’s a person of the utmost integrity. I’m really really lucky to have her in B.C.,” Clark said.

OPP investigators probing the possible destruction of documents related to the cancellation of gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville zeroed in on activities in McGuinty’s office on Feb. 6-7. The warrant alleges that 24 hard drives in the premier’s office were improperly accessed on those dates — just days before Wynne officially became premier on Feb. 11.

OPP alleged that Faist was brought in by McGuinty’s former chief of staff — David Livingston — and provided access to 24 staff hard drives.

The OPP warrant says Faist was not a member of the Ontario Public Service, and alleged that Livingston may have committed a criminal breach of trust by giving him access to public records.

Livingston, through his lawyer, has denied any wrongdoing.

Milloy said that his government has now provided information to the police regarding Faist’s work with the Liberal caucus and party.

The OLP confirmed that Faist was paid $60,000 by the party for IT maintenance, starting in March 2011.

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