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The Doug Ford government is defending the hiring of one of its campaign advisers as the province’s new U.S. trade representative at an annual salary of $350,000.

“Apparently, the Ford gravy train has arrived at Queen’s Park and it’s all aboard,” NDP MPP Taras Natyshak said in the legislature Thursday. “This is insane.”

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Former premier Kathleen Wynne came under some criticism when she appointed former Liberal MPP and adviser Monique Smith to the position in 2013.

The Washington office had been set up under former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty to “make the province more competitive globally, help grow the economy and create more jobs,” according to a government media release.

The Ford government dismissed Smith from her $274,145-a-year position in July and has now hired PC campaign adviser Ian Todd at a higher salary.

Economic Development Minister Jim Wilson said that unlike Smith, Todd is not eligible for a year’s severance or a public pension, so he is not costing the taxpayer any more money.

Todd is also taking on an expanded role, allowing the government to end consulting contracts that were costing $710,000 a year, Wilson added.

“He’s worked for a number of cabinet ministers, he’s worked for the leader of the party, he’s worked for the prime minister, he’s got experience in the private sector, the mining sector,” Wilson said. “He also built a couple of restaurants.”

aartuso@postmedia.com