Brock Grills says an allegation of fraud made against him by a former employer, Beard Free Brewing, had nothing to do with him stepping down as the Green party candidate for Peterborough-Kawartha in the October federal election.

Grills was chosen to represent the party in the election early this year but stepped down as the candidate in July "for personal reasons."

He said Friday those personal reasons still hold - and they have nothing to do with his previous job at the now-closed Beard Free, where he was a salesperson from August until December 2017.

Grills said he was interviewed by police over the fraud allegations but was never charged.

A lengthy Facebook post by Marie Baker-Rozema, the wife of Beard Free owner John Rozema, alleges Grills took an e-transfer payment from a client that was meant for the business - and then Grills paid the brewery back after he was interviewed by police.

The couple didn't want to comment Friday.

Meanwhile Grills made allegations of his own against the brewery - both on social media and again in an interview Friday - saying Beard Free owed back wages, commissions and incentives.

"Go ask any other (former) employees about Beard Free Brewery," he said.

Grills also said he disclosed the allegations against him to local Green party officials.

Gianne Broughton, the CEO of the Peterborough-Kawartha Green party riding association, confirmed that he'd made the disclosure.

"He told me the conflict had been resolved - and there wasn't any outstanding conflict to be concerned about," Broughton said.

Meanwhile Grills also said on Global TV earlier this month that the Green party central office "pushed" for his resignation because he was reaching out to other parties.

He said Friday he sent messages to people in the NDP, Liberal and Conservative parties to try to ask them to adopt policies to curb climate change - and that made the central party "uncomfortable."

Green Party of Canada media spokespeople couldn't be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

Grills said that his reaching out to other parties, coupled with his "personal reasons" for wanting to step down, compelled him to resign as the candidate.

As of Friday, Broughton said the Green party had no candidate yet for Peterborough-Kawartha - but five people had completed their applications and were being vetted.

Broughton would not release the names of the potential candidates Friday.

But Susan Hillock, who teaches in the department of social work at Trent University, spoke at a public meeting at the library this week about housing and homelessness and identified herself as a prospective contestant.

Meanwhile other parties have lined up their candidates for the riding.

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Women and Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef will be the Peterborough-Kawartha candidate for the Liberals while Mike Skinner is once again the candidate for the Conservatives.

Candace Shaw is running for the NDP and Alex Murphy will be running for the People's Party of Canada.

The federal election is Oct. 21.