On a cloudy evening on Feb. 12, nearly 120 people gathered in one of Toronto’s most expensive condos for the opportunity to rub elbows with Pierre Poilievre, a man who appeared — at the time — poised to become Canada’s next prime minister.

For a price of up to $1,750 each, billionaire host Peter Gilgan welcomed guests including Greenbelt developer Silvio De Gasperis and Ontario Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Jill Dunlop to his 55th-floor penthouse in Toronto’s ritzy Yorkville neighbourhood.