Well one tidbit is old news, but it has not yet been resolved. Christina Blizzard discusses the Colle-gate affair and the ensuing fallout, which she feels is still an issue ('Liberal handouts will backfire'):
Provincial auditor general Jim McCarter released a report on what's been dubbed "Colle-gate." He concluded that while there was "no evidence" that any organization received a grant because of political ties, the connections were there.
"However, in some cases those ties did exist and, when this is combined with a process lacking openness and most of the normal accountability controls, it can create the perception of favouritism if the organization ends up obtaining a grant," McCarter said in his report.
(. . . )
New Democratic critic Peter Kormos says that just because the auditor couldn't find evidence that political ties resulted in grants being handed out, that doesn't mean it didn't happen.
"To suggest that somehow it was an accident that some groups got money while another didn't is extremely naive," he added.
"He (McCarter) merely indicates that his investigation was unable to disclose those. That's why the question of the nature of the relationship between some of these organizations and the Liberals in government warrants further inquiry," Kormos said.
So Dalton's claim of exoneration rings pretty hollow.
Then there's the new development regarding a possible conflict of interest in the Ontario Power Authority.
For a supposedly squeaky-clean, transparent government, there sure is a reek emanating from Queen's Park.
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8 comments:
McGuinty's summer christmas of giving just never stops does it??
I have to laugh about yesterday's education annoucement. Each and every year the government in power allocates money to school boards. It's usually done in late spring.
It's a usual occurance and one repeated every year.
Leave it to entitlement Dalton McGuinty to fanfare this year's allocation with a photo op and press conference.
Oh, and how about the Elementary Teachers union directing its members to vote Liberal???? Talk about Lemmings. It's got nothing at all to do with what's good for students, and everything to do with electing a government that's going to continue to give out our taxdollars while expecting less service from the education system.
Where have we heard THAT scenario before? Healthcare, social services??? Paying more for less seems to be the true record of this government.
Let's hope voters will not be used again.
Oh, and how about the Elementary Teachers union directing its members to vote Liberal????
I saw that too. Despicable.
Thank goodness there are teachers, like the ones I'm related to that don't abide by their union's wishes.
These same individuals pride themselves on teaching kids how to be critical thinkers.
Do you ever get the feeling that the education system is more about pleasing adults than it is about educating children??
I don't know about you anon. and Joanne but it bothers me that the ads I'm hearing from the elementary teacher union says that they want $711 more per year to help our students. If over 70% of our education dollar goes to salaries and benefits then how much does that REALLY leave for students????
McGuinty's pacified the unions and looks like he can still buy their vote. Sad really.
Actually though I think that the teacher directive to vote Liberal might work in John Tory's favour in one respect because sometimes parents leave the system because of the union mindset. It could also work against him because why would private school administrators want to be part of all of this????
Way too many questions, and I'm in need of a vacation too Joanne.
Thank goodness there are teachers, like the ones I'm related to that don't abide by their union's wishes.
Me too, Anon. My sister hates having to belong to the union. She has no choice if she wants to teach. When they say strike, she has to strike. So far, though, she still has a choice about who to vote for.
Way too many questions, and I'm in need of a vacation too Joanne.
Take a little break. It's a long winter.
Anon makes a great point in that of course each and every year the gov't allocates money to school boards.
Just like the Liberals to showboat a common occurance.
J.
Anon makes a great point in that of course each and every year the gov't allocates money to school boards.
It's the timing that's questionable, but I don't fault Dalton for this because they all do it.
It's the apparent cover-up of Cricket-gate that bothers me, and the fact that McCarter was only given a limited scope to investigate.
Despite Tory's (many) weaknesses, I'm inclined to vote PC this time, just because DMcG has been a true disaster. It's sad that the Ontario PC party has even made this a close decision.
Corruption can never be excused, and political corruption is worse. I feel the same way about the federal Libs; I cannot vote for someone, especially a leader, associated with the old regime.
Well said, Moebius. The best of a bad lot. I know you've wrestled with this; as have I.
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