Ian Todd will be Premier Doug Ford's representative in Washington. He will be paid more than Canada's ambassador to the United States. Source: Maple Leaf Strategies

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford has appointed a longtime Conservative and a former campaign adviser to be Ontario’s representative in Washington.

Ian Todd will represent the province at the Canadian embassy in Washington, according to three separate sources who spoke with iPolitics on the condition of anonymity.

Two of the sources said the decision was made at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

In a brief statement sent late Wednesday evening, Ford’s spokesperson Simon Jeffries said the government will have more to say about the appointment when it’s officially announced on Thursday.

“Trade with the United States is essential to Ontario’s economy. It is important for Ontarians to have someone representing our province’s best interests in Washington,” Jeffries said.

Todd has been a senior member of Conservative election campaigns federally and provincially for years. Most recently, he was the head of tour for Ford’s campaign. He has also served as chief of staff to ministers in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s government and, until recently, was a partner at Maple Leaf Strategies.

Ford fired Ontario’s former representative in Washington — a Liberal appointed by the previous government — at his first cabinet meeting in late June.

Monique Smith left the post in mid-July. According to the province’s sunshine list, she made $274,144.56 in 2017.

Her successor stands to get a major bump in pay. According to one source, who spoke with iPolitics on the condition of anonymity, Todd’s salary will be around $350,000. The premier’s office refused to comment on the figure.

The number given to iPolitics is in line with another patronage appointment Ford made early in his mandate. Rueben Devlin worked on Ford’s election campaign and was appointed to chair the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine.

Devlin makes $348,000 a year.

If Todd’s salary is in the same range, he would not just be making 27 per cent more than his predecessor, but also at least 20 per cent more than Canada’s ambassador to the United States, David MacNaughton.

MacNaughton’s salary is between $247,900 and $291,600.

Todd’s appointment was approved as the Ford government maintains a hiring freeze on the civil service and a wage freeze on managers’ salaries.

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