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Premier Kathleen Wynne sent the first open letter on Sunday, questioning O'Leary about comments he had made about Ontarios auto sector. ( Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS )

By Allison JonesThe Canadian Press

Tues., Jan. 24, 2017

The Ontario Liberal government is blitzing federal Conservative leadership candidate Kevin OLeary with a series of fact-check open letters, which a political pundit said could be part of an electoral long game.

McMaster University political science professor Henry Jacek said the Liberals know that going after OLeary will appeal to their potential voters.

Theyre not likely to like Kevin OLeary at all, so it doesnt hurt at all to tell these people: Kevin OLeary doesnt like us, he said.

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If you know your base dislikes somebody and doesnt trust them, boom, just play that up that theyre attacking you ... Going into the next election theyll probably move it a little step more and associate the opposition leader with Kevin OLeary.

Premier Kathleen Wynne fired off the first open letter on Sunday, taking the former Dragons Den television personality to task for comments he had made about Ontarios auto sector noting it has seen nearly $2 billion in investment recently and corporate tax rate.

OLeary responded in kind Monday, slamming Wynne in an open letter of his own for Ontarios more than $300-billion debt and suggesting she call a snap election at a time when her popularity is extremely low.

Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid then followed up Monday, writing to OLeary that debt-to-GDP ratio is a more important figure, and Ontarios about 40 per cent is lower than Quebecs and not too much higher than some Atlantic Provinces.

OLeary also mentioned Ontarians anger over rising hydro rates in his open letter, so Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault wrote a missive Monday saying it was important to shut down coal plants and noting the government is trying to cut electricity bills.

John Duffy, a strategist who has advised Liberal campaigns, said the principal motive is to correct the record.

Kevin OLeary speaks with a very loud voice, he said. This isnt potshots from (Conservative leadership candidate) Brad Trost. This is Kevin OLeary. Hes famous. People listen to him.

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Ontario Liberals, O'Leary fire off open letters in heated exchange - Toronto Star