TORONTO— Doug Ford outright rejects claims that he is running his family business into the ground while “being grossly overcompensated,” but he’s not releasing the information to back it up.

With just hours to go in the Ontario election, the Progressive Conservative leader spent day 28 of the campaign defending his brand as a family man and a businessman. Accusations levelled against him in a $16 million lawsuit from his brother’s widow accuse him of shorting her and her kids millions while he drained his Dad’s estate and the company’s worth, and mismanaged his brother’s estate.

[READ MORE: Ford adds family feud to growing list of liabilities]

None of the allegations have been proven in court. Ford denies the allegations outright and said his sister-in-law’s lawyers told him to “pay up” or they would go public with the allegations.

“That’s just wrong, to put a gun to someone’s head to say pay up,” he said.

Renata Ford’s lawyers, Don Jack and Martin Henderson of the law firm Aird and Berlis, said neither they nor their client would be commenting on the case.

He was twice asked what his compensation at Deco Labels & Tags is and whether he will release the company’s financial statements to prove his claims that the family has an “incredible company.” He told journalists the proof to back all that up will come out in court.

“Those claims are false and without merit and I can tell you this is going to be proven in court. We have an incredible company for 55 years, I’m proud of it. And again, those claims are false and without merit and it will be very clear when we prove that in court,” Ford said at a downtown hotel.

The statement of claim filed by Renata on June 1, outlines significant losses at Deco, even as Ford pitches himself as a competent businessman who will take his private sector skills to Queen’s Park.

From 2010 to 2017 the lawsuit says Deco lost nearly $6.7 million at its Toronto and Chicago offices combined.

“These statements are false,” Ford said. “They’re without merit, they’ll be proven in court. We just can’t figure out, you know, where this came from. We just can’t figure it out. I’ll let the people decide. But I’ll tell you when lawyers say ‘pay-up or we’re releasing it’ that’s just wrong.”

Ford says he stands by Renata as his family outs her as an ‘addict’

Throughout the press conference Ford maintained that he has always stood by his late brother’s family.

“This is tragic for Stephanie and Dougie and our family has always stood behind the kids, always stood behind Renata. And we never wavered. We’re just, we’re shocked, that’s what it comes down to. We’re floored,” he said.

But in responding to the 11th hour allegations, the campaign outed Renata as an addict.

“Renata has serious struggles with addiction, and our hope is that she will accept help for the sake of herself and my grandchildren,” read part of a statement sent by the party on behalf of Ford’s mother Diane Ford.

[READ MORE: Ford accuses sister-in-law of taking advantage of election with $16M lawsuit]

Asked on Monday if he has thrown Renata under the bus, Ford said “never.”

“Let me tell you something I have protected Renata in the toughest times in front of the media for the last, God knows how long. For 15 years, 15 years I have taken care of her both financially, personally. I have bent over backwards, broken down brick walls to take care of Renata. Where this is coming from, you’re going to have to ask her. But I’ll tell you my priority when it comes down to that are the kids.”

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the allegations about Ford’s handling of Deco Companies raise broader questions.

“People wonder whether this is the kind of leader, the kind of premier, that will look after you and your families,” Horwath said. “If these allegations are accurate, this is a person who is not treating this widow of his brother and her children in a very positive way.”

Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne called the lawsuit “sad” because it involves Rob Ford’s two young children. She said it’s just a hint of what’s to come if Doug Ford and the Tories form a majority government. She urged him to clarify the details around his business operations to voters.

“He needs to be open about the situation with his business because if this is the credential that he is running on, that he’s a businessman and he knows how to run a business, and somehow that qualifies him to be the premier of Ontario, and if that’s under question … he’d better be clear about the business.”

With files from the Canadian Press

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