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Reza Shirani, the owner of Executive Sedan Livery Service Inc., said in a statement he’s a longtime supporter of the Liberal party and of Philpott.

“I’m delighted that she and my party were elected to form a majority government,” said Shirani, who was a volunteer on Philpott’s federal election campaign last year. “I resent the implication that, somehow, I was ‘playing the system’ as an ‘insider’ in some inappropriate way.”

In taking the step of offering a full refund, Shirani said, “I fully expect to be accused by the ‘defenders of Canadian taxpayers’ of making a donation of services to the Liberal Party of Canada that exceeds authorized individual donation limits, even if I promise not to seek any political tax credit.”

Anyway, I don't agree with the Health min on everything, but she's been solid. Hopefully she apologizes / personally reimburses. —

Michelle Rempel, MP (@MichelleRempel) August 17, 2016

Shirani, who explained in the statement that he came to Canada as a refugee from Iran in 1987, defended the rates for his service — they are competitive, he said — and said it “never occurred to me” that his support for the Liberals would “result in my not being able to provide my company’s services” to the government.

The National Post reached out to Shirani for comment. He said he had no special relationship with Philpott other than canvassing for her campaign, as he had for other Liberal candidates. He said that he didn’t believe Philpott was aware of his occupation when he volunteered for her.

Shirani ended his statement saying the only reason he responded was “to restore Minister Philpott’s fine reputation and relieve her of being required to answer to such patent nonsense.”

“I know that Minister Philpott and I both deserve better.”

mdsmith@postmedia.com

twitter.com/ mariedanielles