McGuinty responds to Lottery Corp mess

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE PREMIER OF ONTARIO

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Ontario's largest arm's-length bodies will no longer have final approval of their own expenses.

Starting this fall, employees at Ontario's largest agencies, boards and commissions will be required to have their expenses reviewed by Ontario's Integrity Commissioner.

Under the new rules, employees who claim unacceptable expenses like personal items and alcohol for staff functions will repay taxpayers.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the new rules today, making employees at agencies, boards and commissions subject to a similar oversight process as ministers and political staff.

Yesterday, the government made public all expense claim reports and receipts for OLG's executive and senior level staff from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2008.

Recent employee expenditures included inappropriate and unacceptable items and services and a number of claims did not include itemized receipts. "Every penny spent by government is a penny earned by Ontarians - and they deserve nothing less than the toughest measures we can muster to protect taxpayer dollars," said McGuinty.

Quick facts

The new oversight rules will apply to Ontario's largest agencies, boards and commissions including: Ontario Lottery and Gaming; Ontario Power Generation; Hydro One; Independent Electricity System Operator; Ontario Power Authority; WSIB; LCBO; eHealth; Cancer Care Ontario; Ontario Infrastructure Projects Corporation (Infrastructure Ontario); Ontario Energy Board; Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario; Ontario Financing Authority; Ontario Realty Corporation; Ontario Public Service Pension Board; GO Transit; Metrolinx; Toronto Area Transit Operating Authority; Ontario Human Rights Commission; Metropolitan Toronto Convention Centre Corporation; Ontario Educational Communications Authority (TVO/TFO); Ontario Racing Commission; Ontario Clean Water Agency.

Under the Cabinet Ministers' and Opposition Leaders' Expenses Review and Accountability Act, cabinet ministers and political staff are required to submit their expenses for review by the Integrity Commissioner to ensure rules are followed and taxpayers' interests are protected.

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