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Matthews argued the NDP doesn’t just rent space from Cornerstone for its headquarters at 2069 Lakeshore Blvd. W. in Toronto, it is a fellow shareholder and the organization has acted as a guarantor in the past to help fund NDP election campaigns.

NDP party officials hold five of the current nine positions on the board of Cornerstone, which includes representation from unions such as CUPE and OPSEU, she said.

“Here we’re talking about a $1 million more in union dues that were run through Cornerstone where they fell under NDP control,” Matthews said. “And then that money was used to backstop the NDP operations and election campaign budgets.”

The relationship between the NDP and Cornerstone is not illegal but it is improper, according to Matthews.

The Liberals released audio that explains the Cornerstone structure, and Matthews noted Horwath’s well-known opposition to back-to-work legislation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-txwE0svJxQ&feature=youtu.be

Large unions that in the past have split their affections between the Liberals and the NDP are clearly tilting toward Horwath’s team in this provincial election campaign as they seek to keep PC Leader Doug Ford out of the premier’s office.

Still, Matthews denied that her party’s Cornerstone claims reflect Liberal bitterness and desperation.

“We think unions have done a lot of great work in this province,” she said. “But what we are saying is that being business partners and acting as government responsible for the public interest is highly problematic.”

The NDP statement notes that the Liberals themselves make it clear that nothing illegal has gone on.

“The party receives no financial consideration or donations of any type, including in-kind donations, from Cornerstone. The party pays market-rate rent for its offices, as determined by an independent real estate firm,” the statement says.

“There is no financial relationship between the NDP and Cornerstone of any kind.”

aartuso@postmedia.com