| TORY CALLS FOR AUDITOR, COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE SUSPICIOUS MCGUINTY SLUSH FUND |
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| Thursday, 19 April 2007 19:00 |
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McGuinty should release all documents about year-end funds at Ministry of Citizenship QUEEN'S PARK, April 20, 2007 – Progressive Conservative Party Leader John Tory today called for the Auditor General to look into suspicious year-end grants from Dalton McGuinty’s government to groups with Liberal Party ties. “After two days of non-answers, there’s a very bad smell in the air,” said Tory. “The Minister keeps promising to release documents supporting his rushed, politically-motivated spending but we’ve seen nothing. Dalton McGuinty should come clean. He should be ordering the release of all information about these dodgy-looking grants immediately.” Since Wednesday, both opposition parties have been asking repeatedly for information about two groups with close Liberal Party ties, who received hundreds of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars. Despite these requests, Dalton McGuinty’s government has refused to provide information about these grants or others that were part of millions in a year-end slush fund. Tory said: “Part of their problem is that Mr. McGuinty’s crowd doesn’t have any respect for the value of taxpayers’ money. The Finance Minister calls $200,000 ‘a pittance’ which will be of more than passing interest to taxpayers as they watch him shovel this money out to Liberal-friendly groups without any controls, while taxpayers languish in overcrowded emergency rooms.” Tory also announced the PC Caucus will file a motion on Thursday in the Public Accounts Committee to require the McGuinty Liberals to table all documents involved in Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration grants and have officials from that Ministry and the Ministry of Finance appear before the Committee to explain how the program works. “The aroma of this scandal is becoming pungent and Ontarians deserve answers about the money trail here,” said Tory. “An independent look by the Auditor will help find answers. It’s also time Dalton McGuinty started providing the open and accountable government he promised in the last election campaign.” -30- For more information: Brendan Howe (416) 325-0412 |