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Gill said Thursday he only suggested to Qadri what sort of career opportunities might be available if the party won the June 7 election, and says any suggestion otherwise is desperation politics.

Qadri eventually dropped out of the race for the nomination and endorsed Gill, who won the candidacy over Halton Region Coun. Mike Cluett a year ago.

The emergence of the tape just three weeks before the election, though, underlines the internal squabbling and controversy that continues to plague the Tories.

“I would be honoured if I could have your support and If we can form a team,” Gill says in the conversation at Qadri’s home. “You tell me, what is it that interests you moving forward? … How can I be helpful and I will do everything I can.”

“The opportunities are limitless, but it’s what interests you,” he says a moment later.

You tell me, what is it that interests you moving forward?

When Qadri says that he is busy enough with his own company, Gill suggests he run for Milton council, then raises the prospect of a job at the Ontario legislature.

“Let’s assume we form a government and you become a chief of staff,” he says, to which Qadri replies only “OK.” “For one of the ministers, right? So that’s one way of really quickly picking everything up … And the chief of staffs are actually paid very decently, believe it or not. Almost at the same pay grade as the MPPs or MPs.”

Gill said Thursday he hasn’t heard the recording, but said any talk of jobs was merely stating the obvious about what might occur after June 7.