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For immediate release COLLE-GATE MINISTER FORCED TO RESIGN WOODSTOCK – The Auditor General’s report released today and the subsequent resignation by Minister Colle demonstrates that the McGuinty government has mismanaged taxpayers’ money and that McGuinty should be held accountable, said Hardeman. “Today the Auditor confirmed that the McGuinty government loosened controls on year-end spending and distributed money without proper documentation or even ensuring that the organizations needed it,” said Hardeman. The Ministry of Citizenship sent out $20 million in year-end funds without asking participants to fill out applications. Among the more shocking revelations in the report was the story of how the Ontario Cricket Association received $1 million after requesting $150,000, only to have $500,000 left over to invest in a guaranteed investment certificate. The Auditor also revealed today that Civil Servants, up to the level of the Deputy Minister, expressed concerns about the process and were ignored by the Minister and political staff. After weeks of questioning by the media and more than 270 questions from the opposition in the Legislature the McGuinty government was forced to ask the auditor to investigate the year end funding. On April 30 the opposition brought forward a motion in public accounts committee asking the Auditor to investigate. Hardeman, as vice chair of the committee, supported the motion however the Liberals used their majority on the committee to vote it down. However McGuinty failed to ask the Minister of Citizenship to step aside for the investigation. “Parliamentary tradition and basic integrity should have dictated that the Minister who was responsible for this program step aside during the investigation,” said Hardeman. “Once again McGuinty had the opportunity to demonstrate integrity and leadership. Once again he failed.” The McGuinty government has previously been criticized by the Auditor for loosening controls when spending year end money. “It goes beyond this one issue to the larger question whether Dalton McGuinty is really doing a good job protecting and managing taxpayers’ money,” said Hardeman.
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