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“We have been working this angle hard enough. I am meeting with their leadership tonight,” the transcript of the May 26 call credits him as saying.

In the press release that accompanied the two 15 second ads that urge Ontarians not to vote for Mr. Hudak, the OPPA president said Tim Hudak had given the union no choice but to engage in a publicity campaign for the first time in its 60 year history.

“Let me be clear. These ads do not serve as an endorsement for the Liberals or NDP… We just don’t want this Conservative as Premier,” he said.

Yet the transcript makes clear that Mr. Christie is working towards a Liberal victory. At one point he is asked which party is the “lesser of three evils.” “The Libs,” he responded.

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Speaking in Ottawa, Hudak pointed to a National Post report suggesting Christie is pushing for a Liberal victory in the June 12 election.

“I do have concerns about the OPP union meeting with the Liberals during the campaign and what was promised by [Premier] Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals in return for advertising,” Hudak said.

“These government unions are spending millions and millions of dollars on ads to re-elect the Liberals…What they’re trying to do with all that money is they’re trying to elect a legislature of the compliant, politicians who will bend to wage and benefit increases and try to intimidate their opponents. Not me.”

Christie told the Post that he met with a senior member of the Liberal Party at their request – a normal part of government relations work. But he said the union has not made any deals with the party.