| NEPEAN-CARLETON TORY MPP LISA MACLEOD SIGNS JOINT LETTER URGING AUDITOR TO INVESTIGATE SLUSH FUND SCANDAL |
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| Monday, 07 May 2007 19:00 |
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MacLeod says this is about proper accountability for tax dollars and calls on Minister should resign QUEEN’S PARK, May 8, 2007 – Progressive Conservative MPP Lisa MacLeod today joined MPPs from both the Progressive Conservative and NDP Caucuses in sending a joint letter to Ontario’s Auditor-General asking him to investigate the ongoing slush fund scandal. She also added her voice to a growing number of Opposition MPPs calling on the Minister responsible to resign. “This is an unprecedented level of co-operation between opposition parties and it underscores how seriously we regard this scandal,” said MacLeod. “The Auditor General must fully investigate the slush fund scandal. This is not an issue about policy or political ideology; it is about a fundamental issue of accountability and fairness.” MacLeod also joined her voice for accountability today in the legislature by asking if the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration had offered his resignation once it was learned that more recipients of the slush fund had ties to the Liberal Party. “First a policy adviser in the minister’s office is linked to a group who received $250,000 out of this slush fund, now today we learn that a former staffer in the Minister of Health’s office sits on the board of another grant recipient organization. Meanwhile, the Ottawa Chabad Centre and the South Nepean Muslim Community have been left out. They’ve received nothing. Did the minister do the honourable thing and offer his resignation to the Premier?” MacLeod added: “If Dalton McGuinty and his Minister continue to cover up this scandal, the Auditor General must have the ability to exercise his prerogative to review this matter and the Minister must step aside. No government has the right to hide the truth.” All 34 members of the PC and NDP Caucuses signed the letter which asks the Auditor to initiate a full review of government year-end spending out of secret funds and report back before September 10. The letter asks the Auditor to probe: how much money exists in secret funds; how it is being spent; for what purpose; who is receiving these funds; and how these recipients are selected. In addition, the PC Caucus has asked over 240 questions on the slush fund scandal without a real response from either the Minister responsible or Dalton McGunity. -30- For more information: Stephen Gilman, Executive Assistant Queen’s Park: 416-325-6351 Nepean-Carleton: 613-823-2116 Cell: 613-297-2051 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |