Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty conceded Friday there are problems with a government spending program that saw $200,000 shipped to a group headed by two senior Liberal party activists, including one candidate in the upcoming election.
McGuinty said his government was going to “have to take a look” at the program which, despite doling out approximately $32 million over the past two years, according to records, has neither a formal application process nor any selection criteria. In fact, the program does not even have a name.
It was under those circumstances that the Iranian-Canadian Community Centre received the $200,000 cash grant only three weeks after registering in March 2006. The charitable organization, initially categorized under “protection of animals,” was later changed to “recreation, playgrounds and vacation camps.”
The group lists its mailing address as the law office of charity director David Farmani, Liberal riding association president for Richmond Hill.
Reza Moridi, the Liberal candidate in the same riding is listed as another director. A third director, Bohran Fouladi, is a longtime acquaintance of Finance Minister Greg Sorbara.
“I think we can do a better job and I think that we have to do a better job,” McGuinty told reporters Friday. “We’re going to have to look at it.”
Recent Comments