TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford adamantly defended his chief of staff against reports that the latter interfered improperly in a staffing decision — but also said he hasn’t asked his top aide about the matter.

The Globe and Mail reported last week that Dean French, Ford’s chief of staff and trusted ally, intervened in Ontario Power Generation’s hiring of Alykhan Velshi and asked for Velshi to be let go. Velshi is the former chief of staff to Ford’s predecessor, Patrick Brown.

“You’re accusing him of doing something that I don’t believe he did,” Ford told reporters Tuesday when asked if French broke the rules.

Earlier in the day, the NDP released a letter asking the Ontario Securities Commission to investigate French’s interactions with OPG, and whether that led the arms-length Crown corporation to act against the best interests of its shareholders or debt-holders.

The Globe reports that Velshi was fired, but that his exit is set for a later date. The Toronto Star reports that Velshi’s ouster will cost OPG $500,000.

Ford called the request filed by the NDP “absolutely ridiculous” and said he’ll wait to see how the commission responds to it.

“I don’t believe at all that he did that. So we’re going to see where this goes,” Ford told reporters.

However, Ford also said he hasn’t asked French whether he intervened, because it’s not a priority issue for his office.

“I haven’t yet (asked),” Ford said. “Maybe I will. … It’s not at the top of my priority. We have so many things coming at us every single day from every single ministry. My focus is on turning this financial mess that we inherited around. Things like this — it’s not on my radar, to be very frank.”

[LISTEN: Premier Doug Ford defends his chief of staff to reporters]

Asked why, then, he believes French didn’t intervene at OPG, Ford said it’s because he has faith in him.

“I think he has integrity; he’s honest,” he said. “I have 100 per cent faith in my chief of staff; he’s the best chief of staff I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t stop.”

Ford’s apparent lack of interest in the matter raised eyebrows among New Democrats and Liberals.

“Either he doesn’t want the answer, or he knows the answer,” interim Liberal Leader John Fraser said.

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