Jim Wilson has left his post in cabinet and quit the PC party, but he and those around him haven’t revealed why or what’s next.
Aside from a terse three-paragraph statement authored by a spokesperson in Premier Doug Ford’s office, there has been a cone of silence and a parade of "no comments" surrounding Wilson’s unexpected departure.
The official statement said Wilson resigned to seek treatment for “addiction issues.”
Today, Global News reported unnamed sources indicate Wilson’s resignation was related to allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour. Global News further suggested the allegations were made by a male Queen’s Park staffer.
Simon Jefferies, a spokesperson for Premier Ford, sent out the announcement on Friday (Nov. 2) at 6 p.m. He responded to one email from CollingwoodToday to confirm Wilson will keep his seat in the Ontario legislature, but not as a member of the PC party. Likely, that would make Wilson an independent MPP.
Jefferies’ statement said Wilson was resigning from his role as Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, and from the caucus to seek treatment for “addiction issues.” Wilson’s office has not confirmed this or put out any statement regarding his resignation.
MPP Todd Smith was named Wilson’s successor on the trade portfolio.
Emails and calls to Wilson’s aides and constituency office were not returned. His media team has not responded to multiple requests for information or interviews.
Further emails to Jefferies for clarification on why Wilson resigned from caucus but remained an MPP, and why the announcement came from the Premier’s office were not returned.
Simon Ainley, president of the Simcoe-Grey Ontario Progressive Conservative Riding Association, did respond to an email, but not to questions.
“Apologies, but I am not in a position to comment at this time,” said Ainley. He didn’t respond to a request asking who could comment.
In the wake of Wilson's departure, Premier Ford completed a cabinet shuffle today.
Wilson was with Ford on Friday in Sarnia to unveil the Ontario government’s new Open For Business signs. Wilson’s Twitter account sent out a tweet at 3:30 p.m. on Friday saying Wilson appreciated feedback from Sarnia’s business community that afternoon.
According to the Tweet, he was joined by Premier Ford, Minister of Transportation John Yakabuski and MPP Bob Bailey. Yakabuski has since been named the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry in Ford’s Monday morning cabinet shuffle.
Wilson has been the Simcoe-Grey MPP since September 1990. Since then, he has been the Minister of Health, Minister of Energy Science, and Technology, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Minister of the Environment.
After Tim Hudak resigned as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in 2014, Wilson stepped into the party leader's role on an interim basis and became the official opposition leader.
Wilson was born and raised in Alliston and currently lives in Wasaga Beach. He was re-elected with 34,094 votes (56 per cent) in the 2018 provincial election this June, which was about 20,000 votes ahead of second-place finisher David Matthews (NDP).
