Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak agree on one thing: helping EllisDon is about boosting business not campaign fundraising.

The two leaders on Monday defended their support of Tory MPP Monte McNaughton’s private member’s bill to free the construction giant from an obscure 55-year-old working agreement requiring it to hire only unionized workers.

While that accord had long ago fallen dormant, it was recently rediscovered by unions, potentially placing EllisDon at a disadvantage to its competitors.

“This is an anomalous situation. The situation arose in the 1950s. This is about bringing this company into line with all of the other construction companies in the province,” Wynne told reporters

“From my perspective it’s about a level playing field and it’s a very good example of the kind of thing where we can find agreement and we should be able to move ahead.”

The issue erupted earlier this month after the Star revealed Tory MPP Randy Hillier (Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington) had warned his caucus colleagues that the legislation could be viewed as a sop to EllisDon to boost campaign donations.

“In caucus, it was stated quite explicitly that following a successful EllisDon fundraiser for Tim our party would continue to benefit financially with the advancement of this legislation,” Hillier said in a May email to all Tory MPPs.

Hudak on Monday denied the MPP’s contention.

“No. That’s not the way we operate,” the PC leader said.

“This bill is all about how we’re going to bring jobs back to the province. It’s part of our package of modernizing our labour legislation to encourage more investment and more job creation,” he said.

No one has suggested any impropriety on EllisDon’s part and the company has stressed it is seeking a legislative fix to a technicality.

McNaughton (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex) said he pushed the private member’s bill, which passed second reading in June, to correct the anomaly dating back to an EllisDon agreement with Sarnia unions in 1958.

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NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, whose party stood against the Liberals and Tories, said the matter proves it is time to consider scrapping corporate and union donations to Ontario political parties.

Wynne on Monday conceded that may be a discussion worth having though she stressed the legislation has nothing to do with campaign finances.

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