Tim Hudak calls for public inquiry into Liberal eHealth Scandal

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

NEWS

QUEENS PARK – Tim Hudak today called for a public inquiry to resolve the many unanswered questions that remain about the serious, and potentially criminal, abuses of the taxpayer money that occurred with the McGuinty Liberal eHealth Scandal.

Tim Hudak noted that the Auditor General lacked the mandate or the resources necessary to answer many of the most important unanswered questions about a scandal that saw hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars funneled to Liberal friendly consultants through untendered contracts and sweetheart deals.

Given the potentially criminal behaviour hinted at in the Auditor General’s report as well as the instances of overt obstruction of the Auditor General’s probe, the Ontario PC Caucus has concluded that only an independent, impartial public inquiry wilth a full mandate to subpoena testimony and documents will provide the answers the people of Ontario deserve to see.

QUICK FACTS

The following issues require a public inquiry to resolve.

• The Auditor General’s report strongly suggests that there may have been deliberate collusion and bid-rigging at eHealth. Given that this is potentially criminal behaviour a deeper probe into the bidding process is required.

• The Auditor General’s report highlights the role of the Power Management Board of Cabinet in waiving the rules relating to untendered contracts. Members of the cabinet have also admitted that the Management Board actively signed off on the awarding of untendered contracts. A Public Inquiry can fully investigate how extensively members of the Management Board were involved in the eHealth Scandal.

• The Auditor General himself reported instances of overt obstruction of his probe by officials of the McGuinty government. This represents a potentially massive abuse of power that requires an independent probe.

• The Auditor General’s Probe lacked the mandate and resources to fully examine the potential Liberal affiliations of the individuals involved in the scandal or to conclusively determine which individuals saw personal financial gain. A Public Inquiry can answer both questions.