Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is denying reports that any sort of illegal lobbying occurred in order to legalize the sport of mixed martial arts in Ontario, according to a recent Canadian Press article.
The NDP has asked Ontario’s integrity watchdog to investigate, and speaking Monday in Kitchener, Ont., McGuinty said he is willing to put the decision under scrutiny.
“I would welcome any such inquiries on the part of the integrity commissioner or anybody else, because I am absolutely confident that nothing untoward took place,” he said.
NDP justice critic Peter Kormos wrote two letters to commissioner Lynn Morrison about whether unregistered lobbying may be going on.
The Ontario Liberal Party is advertising a $250-a-ticket fundraiser Oct. 19 hosted by former premier David Peterson and his colleague Noble Chummar, who is a registered lobbyist for Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The close relationship between UFC, Chummar and Peterson raises questions given the government is developing regulations around mixed martial arts, Kormos has said.
Peterson has called the suggestions of wrongdoing “scurrilous” and “factually incorrect.”
Payout Perspective:
This is nothing but political posturing on part of the NDP — a party that vocalized support for the legalization of MMA last month — in advance of the coming Ontario General Election in October 2011.
MMA has nothing to worry about here.
Not true.
Lobbyists should keep their grease money away from politicians.