Pierre Poilievre has replaced the Conservative Party’s top lawyer with his own pick, CBC News has learned, as he continues to shake up the party’s upper echelons.┬а
The party’s legal counsel, Arthur Hamilton, has been replaced with Michael Wilson, a┬аPoilievre┬аally and partner at the law firm┬аGoodmans, according to sources. The sources were not authorized to speak publicly about the change.
It’s the latest in a series of appointments by Poilievre that include an overhaul of the party’s powerful fundraising arm and a reported change to a┬аhigh-ranking leadership role.
Wilson, a partner in the dispute resolution group at Goodmans, helped out with Poilievre’s leadership campaign. A Politico profile of the campaign names him as an Ontario field organizer. He previously worked as chief of staff to Ontario’s attorney general.
His predecessor, Hamilton, a partner at Dentons, has a long history of representing the party, including during high-profile incidents during the Stephen Harper era, such as the 2011 robocalls affair.
The switch follows other recent┬аbehind-the-scenes changes.┬аOne of Poilievre’s first moves upon becoming Conservative leader was to replace the head of the powerful Conservative Fund.┬а
James Dodds, appointed to the party’s fundraising arm by former leader Erin O’Toole, was replaced with lawyer Robert Staley, another Poilievre ally who has been with the party since┬аthe Harper period.
Former MP and cabinet minister Tony Clement was also appointed to the Fund’s board.
Less than a week after winning the leadership, the Toronto Star reported Mike Crase, executive director of Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives, would become executive director of the federal party.
A spokesperson for Poilievre’s office said he would not comment on staffing matters.
