Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli arrives for a meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and members of cabinet on Aug. 30, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO — The provincial NDP is calling for Finance Minister Vic Fedeli to be removed from cabinet due to allegations levelled against him by former Tory leader Patrick Brown.

On Friday, Brown is expected to released his tell-all memoir, which is being dismissed by the Ford government as full of “lies” and an attempt to exact revenge.

Global News obtained a copy of the book early, and reports that it includes an accusation of sexual misconduct against Fedeli.

Because of that, the NDP says he should be removed from cabinet while the claims are investigated.

“If a woman has made sexual-misconduct allegations against Vic Fedeli, I assume that Doug Ford will be immediately ordering a fully independent investigation, and be removing Mr. Fedeli from cabinet while that investigation takes place,” reads a statement from NDP deputy leader Sara Singh.

“If there is any truth to allegations that the Conservative government is protecting Mr. Fedeli by buying the silence of his victim, Ford needs to come clean with the people of Ontario. Obviously, protecting a powerful man who has committed any sort of misconduct is wrong.”

Fedeli strongly denies the allegations.

“These accusations from Patrick Brown are categorically false and without any merit. Facts relating to Mr. Brown’s lack of credibility are well-documented and on the public record, as are his motivations in using his book to pursue old grievances,” Fedeli said in a statement.

Ford quickly tweeted his support for Fedeli, calling him the “most honourable, ethical, and decent individual I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with.”

Brown’s allegations top a growing pile of damaging news stories that have hit the Ford government in the last two weeks. The one involving Fedeli comes less than 24 hours before he’s scheduled to deliver his first economic update.