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TORONTO — Premier Kathleen Wynne rewarded the Liberal campaign co-chair in the 2014 Ontario election with nearly $900,000 in government contracts, the Progressive Conservatives say.

Opposition Leader Patrick Brown said he was shocked to learn David Herle and his Gandalf Group consulting firm got contracts for $836,000 and $49,000 from the cabinet office, and he suspects other ministries gave Herle contracts as well.

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Brown called it another example of how the Liberals crossed ethical lines, saying it was inappropriate to reward their friends and party insiders with taxpayer money.

Wynne said all governments use market research and polling firms, and she said Ontario has contracts with at least least six other companies, including a $2-million deal with Ipsos Reid.

The premier said all of the research contracts were procured through a fair, transparent and competitive process, with final decisions made by a committee of at least three non-partisan public servants.