By David Helwig
SooToday.com
Wednesday, April 13, 2005

TONY MARTIN NEWS RELEASE

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Tony Martin attacks growing Liberal HRSDC scandal

"Yet another example of Liberals showing favour to their friends at the expense of communities." - Tony Martin

OTTAWA – The latest scandal at HRSDC threatens community employment-training programs across Canada, NDP MP Tony Martin said today amid reports of government intimidation of community agencies and public servants.

As an example, Martin cited the "lunacy" of the Liberal government in trying to give a $177,000 contract for employment services for the hard of hearing, deaf and deafened community in Sault Ste. Marie to the Ontario March of Dimes OMD) instead of the area Canadian Hearing Society (CHS).

"The Ontario March of Dimes says they were approached by HRSDC to take over this contract. They agreed but later withdrew, citing they were not qualified to deliver these specialized services and that CHS in Sault is," an incredulous Martin said. "But today we hear the government HRSDC official saying they will go ahead and assist the March of Dimes to deliver this service when they withdrew and the deaf and hard of hearing have no services in our community!"

At the Human Resources Committee hearing, Martin read into the record a February letter from Ronald Kelusky, OMD vice president which stated "there is a compelling argument to continue to support the program that (CHS) operate in Sault Ste. Marie and I am requesting that HRSDC reconsider the decision. From an employment service perspective there is much that differentiates the supports that we can provide and those additional supports required by job seekers who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. Their needs are unique and so are the approaches and solutions the Canadian Hearing Society has developed."

After the committee, Martin said the "lunatics have taken over the asylum" when everyone agrees who should get this contract and yet HRSDC gives the contract to the agency who does not want it and says they are not qualified to deliver it.

CHS has had the contract since 2001 serving approximately 45 clients in the Sault area.

"Why reinvent the wheel when the Canadian Hearing Society has a good track record and 35 clients in the Sault need their service?" Martin said.

Media reported last week that HRSDC suspended Scarborough employee Ian Shaw for criticizing the new rules at a public meeting.

Martin, with NDP leader Jack Layton at his side, tried without success to have the Parliament’s Human Resources Committee to guarantee immunity for Shaw so he could testify there today.

"I feel a responsibility to this individual because he spoke at a community meeting I organized and he loses half a month's income for speaking out in favour of the community, and community agencies," Layton said.

At that meeting, Shaw was introduced as and spoke as a union representative for the Canadian Employees and Immigration Union, the union representing most HRSDC employees.

The Parliamentary committee has been investigating HRSDC’s new rules since early March, following a motion introduced by Tony Martin.

Agency and community network witnesses have already testified to being intimidated by senior HRSDC officials after speaking out.

"A climate of fear exists right across this country in agencies treated unfairly by a Liberal government that controls their purse strings and then punishes whistleblowers and others who speak out," said Martin

At stake are contracts worth at least $500,000 for job-training programs.

Funding applications now require such minute detail that many smaller agencies don’t have the staff resources to complete them.

In earlier testimony, Members of Parliament heard how agencies that have helped women, youth, the disabled and the hearing-impaired overcome barriers to employment are already losing program contracts to Liberal-friendly organizations.

In Toronto, three non-profit agencies are already slated to close their credible, long-standing programs.

Meanwhile, new contracts have gone to Liberal-friendly organizations—agencies with ties to former Human Resources Minister Joe Volpe’s riding, or who paid to attend Liberal party conventions or join the party’s Laurier Club to gain access to decision-makers.

In an exchange with Ontario March of Dimes at committee, Martin said his quarrel was not with them nor with local HRSDC staff but with a Liberal government who has created a culture where non-profit organizations feel they must pay the Liberals to attend their conventions and join their Laurier clubs to get their ear.

"Charities in this country are learning that what matters is who you know in the PMO, not the merit of your community service," Martin said.

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