The results of this spending led to the resignation of the entire OLG board. The board was temporarily replaced by civil servants whose first order of business was to fire Kelly McDougald the CEO of the OLG. In following the scandal the OLG released 2 years worth of spending by the board. I was surprised to find that this spending consisted of restaurant bills of $3,700, bar tabs of $1,500, $500 gym memberships (including weight watchers), golf memberships, and help for around the house such as nanny services. Now although these costs are fairly high my main concern is how has this been going on for 2 years?! It is clear that the finance minister has not been doing his job. These expenses were definitely not a necessity but a luxury at the expense of lottery payers.
The OLG obviously recognized that these expenses were unacceptable for a government run public agency. The government is now launching an accountability report to further legitimize the OLG. The scandal really exposed the illegitimacy of the whole gambling industry. Some lottery earnings go to charities, hospitals and education so basically the OLG was stealing from charity, if you want to look at it that way. The people who are paying for lottery tickets are the ones getting hurt the most. I myself have bought lottery tickets in the past and if I knew that there was a slight possibility that my money would go towards bar tabs, I would obviously not participate.
The OLG also have been issuing untendered contracts, such contracts were present during the EHealth scandal as well. In light of this new scandal Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak stated that the McGuinty government isn't in control especially with the recent Ehealth scandal. The OLG’s and McGuinty's creditability is at stake as no one wants to get robbed of their money. Tax payers already feel that they are not getting enough for their money. The last thing that I want and tax payers want is for the OLG to be illegitimate.
Gambling is a risk already, and I’m not ready to give my money away. This scandal has brought light to what is really going on in the OLG and hopefully the government can learn from this mistake and can work further to make the creditability of the OLG more legitimate. There should not be more of a gamble to gambling.
The OLG also have been issuing untendered contracts, such contracts were present during the EHealth scandal as well. In light of this new scandal Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak stated that the McGuinty government isn't in control especially with the recent Ehealth scandal. The OLG’s and McGuinty's creditability is at stake as no one wants to get robbed of their money. Tax payers already feel that they are not getting enough for their money. The last thing that I want and tax payers want is for the OLG to be illegitimate.
Gambling is a risk already, and I’m not ready to give my money away. This scandal has brought light to what is really going on in the OLG and hopefully the government can learn from this mistake and can work further to make the creditability of the OLG more legitimate. There should not be more of a gamble to gambling.
http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090831/OLG_changes_090831/20090831?hub=Toronto
I can't believe the finance minister allowed this type of spending go on for over 2 years. With all the money issues the McGuinty government has been having with the ehealh, OLG and the tobacco companies, I wouldn't be surprised if it shifts the vote in the next proviencial election.
ReplyDelete(I love that the bills listed were for eating and drinking, as well as gyms memberships and weight watchers... I guess they needed the calories to even out lol)