For Submission
September 13, 2006

Questioning McGuinty Priorities

The events of this past week have once again reminded us about the McGuinty Liberals’ abuse of the public trust and a lack of direction to addressing the needs of so many Ontarians.

The Standing Committee on Government Agencies, of which I am a member, oversees agencies owned or managed by the provincial government. From September 5-7 this committee met for the purpose of reviewing three crown corporations – The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Ontario Lottery & Gaming, and Hydro One.

This process once again reminded us of why the public has a lack of trust in government.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) was questioned by Ontario’s Environment Commissioner about a potential recycling program. Dalton McGuinty’s knee-jerk reaction was to award the privately and 98% foreign owned company, The Beer Store, with the opportunity for more profits. This is a contract without a contract.

Bensimon Byrne, the ad agency known for its famous McGuinty, “I won’t raise your taxes” advertisement during the 2003 election, has raked in over $14 million in government contracts since Dalton McGuinty took office. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC), a government run organization, has signed on with Bensimon Byrne in an identical contract to the previous contract, but for double the cost.

Even worse, the OLGC has dropped the ‘C’ in its acronym at a cost of up to $6 million to Ontario taxpayers. This is now commonly referred to as the “Six Million Dollar C.”

It was also revealed that the McGuinty Liberals still have not provided the explanation it promised over six months ago to review the immense salary and benefits of the CEO of provincially owned Hydro One. Tom Parkinson, know for his famous Hydro One helicopter rides to his cottage, was paid over $1.5 million in 2005 – an increase of nearly $400,000 from the year before. This is all at a time when electricity prices are skyrocketing.

The McGuinty Liberals have shown a continuous disregard of accountability to taxpayers. They refuse to provide an explanation as to why Liberal friendly ad agencies and crown corporations continue to spend taxpayers money on what appears to be extremely wasteful endeavours.

What makes this even more inexcusable is the fact that this is occurring at a time when farm communities, hospitals, education, and rural Ontario are crying out for assistance.

Maybe Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals feel they are entitled to their entitlements. Where have I heard that before?