One of Premier Doug Ford’s former top aides has been sanctioned for violating Ontario’s lobbying rules.

Amin Massoudi, who served as Ford’s principal secretary, failed to register as a lobbyist before engaging in a 2023 phone call with a public office-holder regarding a client’s economic development request, according to Ontario’s integrity commissioner, Cathryn Motherwell.

In her ruling, Motherwell said Massoudi “knowingly [placed] that person in a position of potential conflict of interest during that communication, because Mr. Massoudi had offered that same public office-holder a ticket to a Toronto Raptors basketball game the previous day.”

“Mr. Massoudi’s failure to register and offer of a gift undermines the act’s purpose of transparency and public confidence in the independence of public sector decision-making,” she wrote.

The commissioner ordered that Massoudi’s name be published alongside a summary of the non-compliance.

In a statement provided to the Toronto Star and other media outlets, Massoudi said the issue involved “a phone call with a mid-level staff member in a minister’s office in January 2023.”

“During that conversation, a topic related to an economic development file came up. I immediately informed the staff member that I was not registered on the file and indicated that a colleague, who was appropriately registered, would follow up,” Massoudi said. “At the time, I believed this to be the appropriate way to handle the situation.”

He called the matter “an invaluable learning opportunity.”

“I take compliance with all relevant legislation extremely seriously,” he said.

“Over the last two years, I have taken concrete steps to strengthen internal compliance protocols and ensure nothing like this happens again. These steps include holding regular compliance meetings, maintaining ongoing dialogue with the office of the integrity commissioner, and retaining external legal counsel to advise on and support a rigorous compliance framework.”

In response to queries from reporters, Ford’s office has stated that it was not involved in the matter and emphasized that anyone engaging with, or advocating to, the government must comply with all legislated rules and regulations.

Massoudi was previously in the spotlight over a controversial 2020 Las Vegas trip with Greenbelt developer Shakir Rehmatullah and former cabinet minister Kaleed Rasheed, who later resigned.

The ruling comes amid ongoing scrutiny of lobbying activity connected to Ford’s government. In recent months, other former aides and lobbyists have faced sanctions over the Greenbelt land swap scandal, which remains under RCMP investigation.

Earlier in May, Motherwell announced the closure of her office’s investigation into the Greenbelt-related scandal involving Kaleed.

Motherwell’s office is required by law to suspend any inquiry once a provincial election is called. Since the original requester did not seek a restart within 30 days of the Conservatives’ election victory, the investigation was closed.

Amid mounting pressure, Ford unexpectedly scrapped the Greenbelt land swap in 2023.

Massoudi heads lobbying firm Atlas Strategic Advisors.

Pictured: Former political aide Amin Massoudi (left) and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

Photo: Amin Massoudi/LinkedIn

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