NO MORE SECRET LISTS: ALL ONTARIANS MUST HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT
FUNDING
Tory says Gateway Centre a prime example of why McGuinty slush funds hurt Ontarians
(Mississauga, ON) - Progressive Conservative Party
Leader John Tory today said all organizations and people should be treated
equally when being considered for government funding, a departure from the
McGuinty Liberals' friends come first approach.
"I completely reject the Dalton McGuinty slush
fund approach where you need to know the Minister in order to get any
government funding," said Tory. "Organizations like the Gateway
Centre are a prime example of why funding for newcomer settlement services
needs a process, paperwork and clear rules from a strong leader at Queen's
Park.
"As I said in April, our government will
advertise the availability of funds like this on the internet and bring an
end to secret McGuinty Liberal lists. All grants will be reviewed by
people who aren't politicians so we can restore faith and show some
respect to taxpayers and their money," said Tory.
Tory made the comments shortly after meeting with
community leaders at the Gateway Centre for New Canadians in Mississauga.
Joining Tory at the meeting were PC MPP Tim Peterson (Mississauga South),
and candidates David Brown (Mississauga-Erindale), Nina Tangri
(Mississauga-Streetsville) and Zoran Churchin (Mississauga East-Cooksville).
Like many newcomer settlement organizations around
the province, Gateway was not given secret priority access to government
funding through political connections in the Minister's office. The
organization applied to the Newcomers Settlement Program and was told
there were no new funds for that program. Meanwhile, Dalton McGuinty doled
out $32 million in year-end slush fund money to other groups, at least one
of which received $850,000 more than it asked for and others which had
Liberal ties.
"Because of Dalton McGuinty's disgraceful slush
fund, we're left wondering why organizations like Gateway didn't receive
funding," said Tory. "If there was an above-board process in
place this organization could have some confidence in the government.
Instead, all they have are unanswered questions."
