Ontario Auditor General Jim McCarter today released his long-awaited report into the full extent of the expense scandal at Dalton McGuinty’s OLG. McCarter’s report clearly indicts the McGuinty Government for allowing a widespread rot of entitlement to sink into the crown corporation.
The Ontario PC Caucus has already uncovered numerous OLG expense abuses including gym memberships, liquor tabs, car detailing, and condo cancellation fees. The Auditor General’s Report builds on these revelations and details how OLG staff spent millions on hospitality, meetings, corporate retreats, and perks for employees.
After the initial revelations broke about the OLG expense scandal, Dalton McGuinty attempted to sweep the scandal under the rug by firing former OLG CEO Kelly McDougald. After McDougald filed a wrongful dismissal suit that would have dragged Liberal dirty secrets into the light, the McGuinty Government settled the lawsuit for $747,925 plus undisclosed legal fees.
QUOTES
“The Auditor General has confirmed that Dalton McGuinty allowed the rot of scandal and entitlement to sink deep into OLG, just as he did at eHealth. With each new Liberal scandal more Ontario families are realizing that is not the same Dalton McGuinty who first asked for their votes in 2003.” -- Ontario PC MPP Norm Miller
“Today the Ontario family budget is already stretched to the breaking point. The hard-hit Ontario families who are being forced to pay more and more are right to be upset when the McGuinty Liberal appointees are using their tax dollars to live the high life.” -- Ontario PC MPP Norm Miller
QUICK FACTS
- In 2008-2009, OLG staff expensed $1 million in meetings and hospitality expenses. (AG’s Report, pg. 7)
- OLG spent $1 million annually on corporate retreats and corporate meetings that were held at spas, resorts, an arcade entertainment complex, a boat cruise, and a paintball camp. (AG’s Report, pg. 11)
- OLG provided executive cars worth up to $57,000 each for 26 employees and car allowances worth up to $24,000 for another 16 employees. These limits are significantly higher than the government’s $30,000 limit. (AG’s Report, pg. 7)
- In January 2008, David Caplan ignored a request from OLG to be exempt from the Management Board of Cabinet travel directive. OLG interpreted this silence as the government approving its request and the expense abuses continued.
- Executives at OLG already earning over $200,000 a year milked Ontario taxpayers for hundreds of thousands of dollars in inappropriate expenses such as:
- $1,515.04 for a suit for a meeting;
- $250 for an Extreme Fitness membership;
- $323.85 for a Clublink membership;
- $135.60 for car detailing;
- $3,268 for a dinner bill that included a tip of $420;
- $885 in alcoholic beverages for 38 people at a pre-Sound of Music dinner.
CONTACT:
Christine Bujold
416-325-1330
christine.bujold@pc.ola.org
