After three weeks and 286 questions, McGuinty agrees to investigation

QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak, MPP for Erie-Lincoln, applauded the efforts of his fellow opposition members for bringing pressure to bear on Premier Dalton McGuinty, who finally conceded yesterday to call in the Auditor General to probe the Liberal year-end slush fund.

After more than three weeks of stonewalling opposition requests, hurling insults of racism, and refusing to provide answers to 286 questions from the opposition in the Legislature, McGuinty was dragged, kicking and screaming into calling on the Auditor to probe the slush fund – which has doled out $32 million in grants to more than 100 organizations over two years without any process or strings attached.

“I am delighted that our resolve to not let the McGuinty Liberals forget this slush fund scandal has finally starting to see results,” Hudak said. “This is not an issue about policy or political ideology, it is a fundamental issue of accountability and fairness.”

Hudak personally demanded answers about the slush fund on several occasions from McGuinty Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Colle. Both opposition parties have been pushing for answers about the slush fund since April 18, when it was discovered some of the money has gone to multicultural groups with close Liberal ties, while many groups who provide important cultural and immigration settlement services did not even know the money was available (See attached chart and timeline).

Among the worthy Erie-Lincoln organizations that did not receive funding, because they were never notified that funding was available, that Hudak fought for in the House included the Fort Erie Multicultural Centre, Casa el Norte and Bled Hall.
“Under Dalton McGuinty’s slush fund, it’s your Liberal Party connections that count, not what you do for immigrants, newcomers and refugees in the province of Ontario,” Hudak said during a recent question period in the House. “Minister, why don’t you do the right thing? Call in the auditor, let him have a look at the reports and get to the bottom of what you did with hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”
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Tim Hudak, MPP