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For immediate release Hardeman Questions Caplan on Lottery Scandal Cover-up TORONTO – Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, today asked David Caplan about reports that during a meeting in August 2006 his Chief of Staff referenced the Premier’s office’s reaction to the Lottery scandal, months before the Minister claims he was aware of the problems. “Dodge and deflect. Dither and deny. That’s what this Minister is doing,” said Hardeman. “If this Minister really is interested in the truth – he’ll come clean and appoint an independent investigation to look into what the Premier’s Office and his office knew about this scandal and what they did about it.” Caplan, the Minister responsible for the Lottery and Gaming Corporation, claimed he didn’t become aware of the problems at the OLGC until 10 days before the “Fifth Estate” aired a program that detailed how Bob Edmonds and others had lottery tickets stolen and the OLGC did nothing. Media reports have revealed that senior staff in Caplan’s office were notified of the problems more than six months before the Fifth Estate program aired. It has now been reported that his chief of staff, Wilson Lee, attended a meeting on the lottery scandal in late August. At the meeting he reportedly said that the Premier’s office felt there was nothing to it. “Everyday there is more revelations of Dalton McGuinty insiders who knew about the problems at the Lottery Corporation and tried to cover them up,” said Hardeman. Hardeman also presented a petition in the Ontario Legislature, the third one this week, calling for Caplan’s resignation. The petition is available at Ernie Hardeman’s constituency office at 12 Perry St in Woodstock and on his website at www.ErnieHardemanMPP.com. -30- |
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