Premier Doug Ford is threatening to call the Ontario Provincial Police to probe the fundraising practices of the opposition New Democrats.

With NDP pouncing on ousted Progressive Conservative MPP Randy Hillier’s allegations about how the Tory government conducts business, Ford lashed out Wednesday.

“I can’t wait to the call the OPP on the illegal fundraising that the NDP are doing,” said the premier, referring to an event Saturday featuring NDP Leader Andrea Horwath where tickets range in price from $100 to $800.

Last month, Ford’s party held a $1,250-a-plate fundraiser from which the media were banned after the Star revealed lobbyists had been enlisted to sell tickets. On Wednesday, he accused the NDP of selling access to Horwath.

“I have no problem calling the OPP to investigate how the fundraising is going with the NDP. That’s what I’m concerned about. You can’t be going around saying: ‘Here’s $800 to have access to the leader of the NDP,’” the premier said.

Horwath said Ford was “muddying the waters” because of a searing letter Hillier sent to his constituents on Monday.

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She emphasized her party has done nothing wrong and mocked the premier for his threat to call in the OPP on the NDP when they have already contacted the police about Hillier’s allegations.

The OPP confirmed it received a complaint from the New Democrats about the allegations made by Hillier against the Tories.

After he was turfed from the PC caucus last week, Hillier said he was expelled for “raising concerns of possible illegal and unregistered lobbying by close friends and advisers employed by Premier Ford.”

The Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP has provided no specifics about the alleged improper lobbying. He was not available for comment Wednesday.

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Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

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