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Minister @VictorFedeli is one of the most honourable, ethical, and decent individuals I have ever had the privilege of knowing and working with. I stand behind him completely from this disgusting smear campaign. He has my full support. See his statement below. pic.twitter.com/HkwhgDdcYe — Doug Ford (@fordnation) November 14, 2018

Fedeli, meanwhile, called the allegations “categorically false and without any merit,” and said he was prepared to take legal action.

Brown stepped down as party leader in January amid allegations of sexual misconduct he continuously denies, paving the way for Ford to succeed him and lead the Tories to a majority.

He announced shortly afterward that he would pen a tell-all book, then returned to politics this fall, winning the mayoral election in Brampton, Ont., northwest of Toronto.

In the book, Brown alleges Fedeli was accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a party staffer in December of last year.

Brown, who was still party leader at that time, said the accusations “were not anything I could picture being consistent with Fedeli’s character” but that he could not disregard them and told Fedeli he would look into the matter.

Brown alleges that when he spoke to the complainant, she asked that the matter go no further.

Photo by Chris Young / The Canadian Press

“I respected her wishes and certainly without her involvement an investigation would be less than productive,” he wrote.

Brown further alleges that the woman was let go shortly after Fedeli was named interim party leader, but that she was kept on the legislative payroll.

Opposition legislators said that if anyone made such allegations against the finance minister, the premier should order an independent investigation and remove Fedeli from cabinet until it is concluded.