Premier Doug Ford has hired the Toronto Sun’s top editorial executive to be his deputy chief of staff.

The appointment of James Wallace, the vice-president of editorial for the Sun tabloids, was disclosed to Progressive Conservative staffers on Friday.

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Premier Doug Ford losing his most experienced political aide

“I am pleased to announce that James Wallace will be joining the premier’s office as deputy chief of staff,” Dean French, Ford’s chief of staff, said in an email.

“The premier has known James for many years and we both have a great deal of respect for him. He will be a fantastic addition to our team. Please join me in welcoming James to Queen’s Park.”

Wallace is no stranger to Queen’s Park.

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He was an aggressive legislative reporter for the Sun during the tenure of former NDP premier Bob Rae and former PC premier Mike Harris and served as president of the Queen’s Park press gallery.

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After briefly leaving journalism to serve as press secretary to Tory cabinet minister Bob Runciman he returning to the legislature after the 2003 election to cover Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty for the Bowes newspaper chain, which is now part of the Postmedia empire that owns the Sun papers.

Known as Jamie to his friends, Wallace’s arrival comes after Jenni Byrne left the premier’s office earlier this month.

Byrne, who was Ford’s most experienced political aide, is headed to the Ontario Energy Board.