Auditor general says province spent $200M on outsourced road repairs
Kim MacPherson's report also says province knowingly outsourced supplies at higher cost to taxpayers
Instead, the Department of Transportation has relied on subjective and "philosophical" decisions,
"The Department outsourced work at the taxpayer's expense to support the private sector and encourage economic growth," she said.
Right now, she said, the department doesn't have an outsourcing policy or decision-making framework to decide which projects should be tendered and which should be done by the province.
The auditor general's findings back up claims by CUPE Local 1190 several years ago that the Brian Gallant government was playing politics with peoples' livelihoods, trying to fulfil campaign promises to boost the private sector by cutting jobs within the public service.
The union sent a request to the auditor general, asking for an investigation into the awarding of public contracts in transportation and construction.
Wasting taxpayer dollars
The province outsourced the chipseal program knowing it was the more expensive route, MacPherson said.
It also spent an additional $1 million to purchase 40 pre-built plow trucks.
"In my view, given the existing state of our provincial infrastructure, it's essential the department uses every dollar in an efficient manner," MacPherson said.
In 2016, CUPE Local 1190 asked the auditor general for an investigation into the privatization of some jobs in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. (CBC)
Although outsourcing is necessary at times, including when the private sector can do the job faster or cheaper, it can also be risky.
For instance, the province put taxpayers at risk when it outsourced work that only a few companies could do, the report said. Over the past four years, 55 tenders valued at $46 million were awarded to the sole bidders.
Supplier availability should be a factor in deciding whether to outsource, the report said.
"When a company goes bankrupt or does not deliver contracted services on time or to appropriate quality, it is the government and residents who suffer."
Recommendations
In her report, MacPherson provided a number of recommendations to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, including that it:
- Develop an evidence-based outsourcing policy and decision-making framework to guide staff on which programs to outsource.
- Assess the risk of over-dependence on a single supplier when making outsourcing decisions.
- Record, track and regularly report on the extent and composition of outsourced maintenance and construction work.
- Evaluate how road work such as chipsealing is sourced and delivered in all district.
- Include capital investment in critical equipment when planning the most cost-effective manner to deliver road repairs.
- Source bridge and culvert replacement work in an evidenced-based, cost-effective and timely manner.
50 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story. David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks Gallant and Darling know Donald Sutherland was born in Saint John and that Sutherland and I have not been allowed to vote for many years but I bet they had no clue we share the same birthday N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/06/gallant-governments-saint-john-bailout.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/auditor-general-saint-john-excessive-risk-1.5170367
Gallant government's Saint John bailout represented 'excessive risk,' AG report says
90 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos
Can anyone tell that I am PO?
Gary Purcell
Sleaze at its best. Darling is nothing but a liberal shill.
David Amos
Reply to @Gary Purcell: Methinks that was kinda obvious when Gallant became the "Minister for Saint John" N'esy Pas?
Jonas Smith
Another day, another Liberal scandal caught after the fact.
David Amos
Reply to @Jonas Smith: YUP
Gary MacKay
Given the gravity of this circumvention of the Local Governance Act and the apparent inappropriate approval of the funds for Saint John I would suggest first the RCMP should be investigating and that Mr. Darling and Mr. Lowe should be finding, rather promptly, ways to return any of the moneys to the taxpayers of the province. Justice must not only be done it must appear to be done.
David Amos
Reply to @Gary MacKay: Dream on
Greg Miller
GIVEN THE "STERLING" PERFORMANCE OF BRAIN GALLANT WHILE PREMIER, I'M CURIOUS --- WHERE DID HE "LAND" i.e., WHERE DOES HE "WORK" NOW? ANYONE KNOW?
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Greg
Miller: He is now a partner in a law firm in Dieppe along with still
being an MLA... Has also been given the designation of Queens Counsel so
all in all he is doing quite well for himself all compliments of the NB
taxpayer..
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks you must understand why I love to sue lawyers N'esy Pas?
Richard Dunn
Where is Gallant hiding.....he owes an explanation to the good taxpayers of NB. Shame on the media for giving him a free pass on this.
Harold Benson
Reply to @Richard Dunn: he's gonna take over snc lavalin.
Richard
Dunn
Reply to @Harold Benson: Let's not forget that Gallant and Trudeau are like brothers.....one in the same.
David Amos
Reply to @Richard
Dunn: I disagree Methinks many would agree that Gallant and Trudeau did
not get along all that well I suspect that is why Gallant was not
around much when Trudeau was campaigning in NB during the last federal
election N'esy Pas?
Johnny Horton
Ahh yes the usual Nb comments section. Just tax the rich more, that’ll pay for everything for us.
Harold Benson
Reply to @Johnny Horton: Tax the rich at all would help.
Johnny Horton
Reply to @Harold Benson:
Even when the refinery got a tax break, they were still paying over hundred times property taxes than NBers were,
I’ll slways be opposed to an open ended taxation system. There should be a reasonable upper limit maximum that anyone or any entity pays,
If we need to live so bad off the rich, then we need to reassess our lifestyles.
Even when the refinery got a tax break, they were still paying over hundred times property taxes than NBers were,
I’ll slways be opposed to an open ended taxation system. There should be a reasonable upper limit maximum that anyone or any entity pays,
If we need to live so bad off the rich, then we need to reassess our lifestyles.
David Amos
Reply to @Harold Benson: Methinks Sam knows as well as I that the Irving Clan would never permit that to happen N'esy Pas?
Wally Manza
yup, sounds like how things are done here in New Brunswick, kinda on the sly with a wink.
David Amos
Reply to @Wally Manza: Methinks you forgot the nod and the secret handshake N'esy Pas?
Mario Doucet
Gallant was not fit to be premier, no wonder he lost the election.
Colin Seeley
Reply to @Mario Doucet:
Add In the “ Doobie Trio “ of Rogers and Arsenault and Boudreau
and there you have it.
Emilien Forest
Reply to @Mario Doucet: What?! no comment about the SANB?
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Colin Seeley: Let us not forget Gallants hero and mentor Dominic LeBlanc..
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Methinks you can trust that I didn't N'esy Pas?
Daryl Doucette
Tax the Irvings.
David Amos
Reply to @daryl doucette: Good luck with that
Mark (Junkman) George
How soon some seem to forget.
At least this money was spent in NB for good reason. It was not sent to Florida over some pretend magic beans that are going to save the planet.
Notice how ALL has gone quiet on the Florida front? No one offering proof of snake oil working to cure the planet as was promised by the boss at NB Hydro? CBC not asking?
David Amos
Reply to @Mark (Junkman) George: Methinks you should attend more EUB hearings N'esy Pas?
Al Clark
How much risk was involved in the LNG tax gift that helped put SJ in this position?
David Amos
Reply to @Al Clark: Methinks that tax gift was bestowed upon the Irving Clan during Bernie Lord's mandate N'esy Pas?
Richard Dunn
Kevin Vickers should toss Gallant and Rogers from caucus for this. He can then run in one of their ridings and see how much NB wants more liberals.
Mark (Junkman) George
Reply to @Richard Dunn:
We should send Kevin Vickers to Florida to guard our 20m investment in snake oil there.
David Amos
Reply to @Mark (Junkman) George: Methinks you may not be aware of how Mr Vickers is involved in my lawsuit N'esy Pas?
Stephen Blunston
go figure these entitled libs scamming the tax payer again . so disgusting . st john needs to get their crap in order and I don't think the rest of the province should pay for it , maybe get irving to pay he probably gets more of a tax break in st john alone to cover this than the tax payers who cant it get timley medical attention
David Amos
Reply to @stephen blunston: Go Figure
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
https://www.scribd.com/doc/2718120/integrity-yea-right
Graeme Scott
When Gallant was busy trying to buy votes "proper procedures" come a distant second.
David Amos
Reply to @Graeme
Scott: Methinks that just like any other lawyer Gallant does not even
know what that expression means N'esy Pas?
David MacKinnon
it is becoming clear, there is no longer need for elected officials, representing their constituents, to be involved in setting fiscal, judicial, or infrastructure priorities; we have a plethora of technocrats ready and willing to make these decisions for us. Clearly democracy is getting in the way of good decision making. While it may be true that the only risk taker in a government decision is the tax payer, the taxpayer and their representive simply should follow the advice and lead of the civil service.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @David
MacKinnon: It has been made abundantly clear over the past several
decades that there is no such thing as true democracy in NB.. We are
indeed a captured bowing to and paying for the wants and wishes of a
select or " distinct " few.
Mack Leigh
Reply to @Mack Leigh: Oops, should read ,,, captured province...
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: "there is no such thing as true democracy in NB"
YUP but the problem is the same all over
YUP but the problem is the same all over
Jason Inness
This is a financial disaster for the City of Saint John. Looking at the budget information online, it seems that this "Bailout" has become part of the city's base spending. This means a major financial crisis for the council elected next May. This problem should have been deal with, not prolonged by a temporary fix. The problem is that the province does not want to give the city the authority to apply fair taxation to certain groups of companies (i.e. Irving companies). Until such a time that the Irving companies pay a higher rate of taxation, we normal citizens will continue to pay excessive taxes for less than adequate services, in order to try to make up the difference.
David Amos
Reply to @Jason
Inness: Methinks the City of Saint John has had many problems for many
years The problem has always been sourced within its rampant public
corruption just like the rest of the world N'esy Pas?
Greg Miller
We may not have the best in many areas in New Brunswick but for some reason we end up with very good auditor generals! Keep up the good work. PS (I miss our former Head Medical Officer--hope she's doing well.)
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Miller: Methinks you don't know the same auditor generals i know N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Greg
Miller: “Confucius said, "To know that we know what we know, and that we
do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.”
Jim Johnston
The Irving bail out is okay with me as long as they go around and eliminate all the land tax deals that company has sucked out of the city. Likely the city would be able to afford to pay back what the province has provided.
David Amos
Reply to @Jim
Johnston: Methinks everyone in New Brunswick would agree that the Irving
Clan are the last people to ever need a bail out from the rest of us
N'esy Pas?
Mack Leigh
We, the people of New Brunswick , will be correcting and paying for the abysmal " mistakes " of the Gallant Liberal government for decades.... Worst ,,,,,,absolutely Worst Premier....ever..in my opinion.
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh:
Methinks you overlooked dudes such Robichaud, Hatfield, McKenna and
Lord. In my humble opinion they make Graham, Alward, Gallant and Higgs
look like amateurs when it comes to abusing the folks they purportedly
worked for N'esy Pas?
Mack Leigh
Just one more bailout by the Gallant Liberals in the hopes of buying more votes....
David Amos
Reply to @Mack Leigh: YUP
Colin Seeley
Thank goodness he is gone. But his flakey leftovers are still there especially Rogers .
David Amos
Reply to @Colin Seeley: Methinks many would agree that Mr Higgs and his minions are no better N'esy Pas?
Ronald Parker
How about a certain family owned business pay fair taxes, that would help. Gallant keeps making Mr. Vickers job harder.
Fred Dee
Reply to @Ronald Parker: I feel almost sorry for Vickers!! They sucked him in!!
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Dee: I don't
Richard Dunn
Gallant and Rogers look like Atcon all over again. Liberals once again prove they will stop at nothing to try and buy votes. Rules, and common sense, meant nothing to Gallant.
We are so fortunate they have had the credit card taken away from them.
David Amos
Reply to @Richard Dunn: Methinks everybody knows they will be back N'esy Pas?
Shawn Tabor
Another Bailout, on the backs of taxpayers. What’s this called,again corporate welfare. Been going on for many years by a a lot of families. And we have watched those families gets richer and richer. On the taxpayers dollar. Now it’s Fracking that’s certain families and investors are about to cash in on. When is this going to stop. A way of life here in New Brunswick. Open for anyone who wants to exploit for their own personal gain, of course the taxpayers will pick up the tab. No problem, we are used it. Let it pass and forgive the loan.Problem solved. Sounds like a Game ( Franco ) game.
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn Tabor: YUP
Harold Benson
As Donald Sutherland said in Kellys Heroes......never heard of it.
David Amos
Reply to @Harold
Benson: Methinks Sam must have told you that Donald Sutherland was born
in Saint John but I bet he hasn't heard that Don and I share the same
birthday and that neither one us have been allowed to vote for many
years N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks Daddy Donald should be proud of his son who played the Bay Boy N'esy Pas? https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kiefer-sutherland-tweet-tommy-douglas-doug-ford-lisa-macleod-1.5169288
David Amos
Surprise Surprise Surprise
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks his Daddy Donald should be proud of his son who played the Bay Boy N'esy Pas?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EROmiJ_J95Q
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/kiefer-sutherland-tweet-tommy-douglas-doug-ford-lisa-macleod-1.5169288
Stop using my grandpa's name, actor Kiefer Sutherland tells Doug Ford
4802 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.Jeremy Kemp
Tommy Douglas is a revered Canadian something Doug Ford nor Lisa MacCleod will ever be.
David Amos
Reply to @Jeremy Kemp: Methinks his Daddy Donald should be proud of his son who played the Bay Boy N'esy Pas?
Gallant government's Saint John bailout represented 'excessive risk,' AG report says
Auditor General Kim MacPherson released a series of audits on Tuesday in the legislative assembly
Auditor General Kim MacPherson delivered her latest report on Tuesday. (Michel Corriveau/Radio-Canada)
A $22.8-million bailout package by the Brian Gallant government
for the City of Saint John represented "excessive risk" to provincial
taxpayers and did not go through the normal approval process, according
to New Brunswick's auditor general.
Kim MacPherson says the bailout agreement did not include targets and, as of this April, had "failed to effectively address the city's challenge" or reduce the financial risk to the province.
And by tying the funding to the city's deficit, the Gallant Liberals actually created "an inappropriate incentive" for the city to run larger deficits so it could collect the maximum amount of $22.8 million from the province, she says.
Her audit, released Tuesday morning at the legislature, also says the government may have committed obstruction, a violation of the Auditor General Act, by not providing all the documents her office asked for.
It's not clear whether that alleged obstruction took place under the previous Liberal government that signed the Saint John deal or the current Progressive Conservative government.
Then-premier Brian Gallant committed to a three-year assistance package in September 2017, following pleas by Saint John Mayor Don Darling for a "new deal" to address what he called a municipal budget crisis. The city was forecasting a $6-million deficit at the time.
That commitment came the same month Gallant appointed himself as his government's regional minister for the Saint John area, despite representing the southeastern riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe.
The Liberals were targeting the region in the 2018 provincial election, hoping to pick up seats in and around the city. Darling publicly mused about running for the party before deciding to remain as mayor.
Kim MacPherson says the bailout agreement did not include targets and, as of this April, had "failed to effectively address the city's challenge" or reduce the financial risk to the province.
And by tying the funding to the city's deficit, the Gallant Liberals actually created "an inappropriate incentive" for the city to run larger deficits so it could collect the maximum amount of $22.8 million from the province, she says.
Her audit, released Tuesday morning at the legislature, also says the government may have committed obstruction, a violation of the Auditor General Act, by not providing all the documents her office asked for.
It's not clear whether that alleged obstruction took place under the previous Liberal government that signed the Saint John deal or the current Progressive Conservative government.
3-year package announced in 2017
Then-premier Brian Gallant committed to a three-year assistance package in September 2017, following pleas by Saint John Mayor Don Darling for a "new deal" to address what he called a municipal budget crisis. The city was forecasting a $6-million deficit at the time.
That commitment came the same month Gallant appointed himself as his government's regional minister for the Saint John area, despite representing the southeastern riding of Shediac Bay-Dieppe.
The Liberals were targeting the region in the 2018 provincial election, hoping to pick up seats in and around the city. Darling publicly mused about running for the party before deciding to remain as mayor.
Thank you @BrianGallantNB for visiting the beautiful @cityofsaintjohn on Saturday. We always appreciate having you in our city. #growsj
MacPherson says the city was conscious
of the timing of the provincial election and "leveraged" that timeline
to push the province for the bailout.
While the Regional Development Corp. was given responsibility to negotiate the agreement, the audit says top staffers in Gallant's office "were intricately involved" in the work.
In December 2017, Gallant sent Darling a letter offering him "my guarantee" that the province would provide a financial bailout and promised to "begin making investments today" to ease the pressure on the city's 2018 budget.
MacPherson
says there was "no evidence of documented approval by cabinet" for
Gallant's promise until two months later. There was also no sign that
the Department of Environment and Local Government — responsible for
municipal funding — was consulted.
When documentation finally appeared in February 2018, it was "difficult to follow, lacked clarity and in our opinion did not include adequate analysis" to support cabinet approval for the funding.
The city also pushed for — and Gallant agreed to — less stringent accounting standards for measuring Saint John's deficit, and for the removal of a clause requiring the legislature's approval for the payments.
MacPherson's audit also says there were repeated references to legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the bailout agreement, but when her staff asked for it, they were refused.
And it faults the premier's office for not making sure records were maintained during the transition from the Liberal to PC government for her review.
"We realize this was during a period of government transition but our expectation was that records would be retained to facilitate transparency, knowledge transfer and effective review of significant, ongoing files," MacPherson writes.
"We believe this is fundamental to effective governance."
Former premier Brian Gallant and Saint John Mayor Don Darling agreed to a bailout package for the city. (Rachel Cave/CBC)
Saint John council approved the agreement on Feb. 12, 2018, three days after the province announced it. The province paid out the first $1.2 million on Feb. 22, for a highway interchange project, despite Gallant not signing the agreement until March 15.
In comments incorporated into her report, the Higgs government says it will heed MacPherson's recommendations to ensure proper protocols are following in funding agreements and that they comply with provincial laws.
MacPherson's audit says tying provincial funding to the city's deficit encourages the city to continue running deficits and also creates a precedent for other municipalities looking for money.
"Providing funding to a municipality to address a projected, ongoing deficit could incite other communities to seek the same solution to financial issues," she writes.
"This precedent would represent additional increased risk for the province as it faces pressure to address municipal deficits with similar actions."
The funding also circumvents the Local Governance Act, which lays out how a municipality is supposed to deal with deficits, according to the auditor general.
While the Regional Development Corp. was given responsibility to negotiate the agreement, the audit says top staffers in Gallant's office "were intricately involved" in the work.
In December 2017, Gallant sent Darling a letter offering him "my guarantee" that the province would provide a financial bailout and promised to "begin making investments today" to ease the pressure on the city's 2018 budget.
When documentation finally appeared in February 2018, it was "difficult to follow, lacked clarity and in our opinion did not include adequate analysis" to support cabinet approval for the funding.
Less stringent accounting standards
The city also pushed for — and Gallant agreed to — less stringent accounting standards for measuring Saint John's deficit, and for the removal of a clause requiring the legislature's approval for the payments.
MacPherson's audit also says there were repeated references to legal advice from the Office of the Attorney General on the bailout agreement, but when her staff asked for it, they were refused.
And it faults the premier's office for not making sure records were maintained during the transition from the Liberal to PC government for her review.
"We realize this was during a period of government transition but our expectation was that records would be retained to facilitate transparency, knowledge transfer and effective review of significant, ongoing files," MacPherson writes.
"We believe this is fundamental to effective governance."
Former premier Brian Gallant and Saint John Mayor Don Darling agreed to a bailout package for the city. (Rachel Cave/CBC)
Saint John council approved the agreement on Feb. 12, 2018, three days after the province announced it. The province paid out the first $1.2 million on Feb. 22, for a highway interchange project, despite Gallant not signing the agreement until March 15.
In comments incorporated into her report, the Higgs government says it will heed MacPherson's recommendations to ensure proper protocols are following in funding agreements and that they comply with provincial laws.
MacPherson's audit says tying provincial funding to the city's deficit encourages the city to continue running deficits and also creates a precedent for other municipalities looking for money.
"Providing funding to a municipality to address a projected, ongoing deficit could incite other communities to seek the same solution to financial issues," she writes.
"This precedent would represent additional increased risk for the province as it faces pressure to address municipal deficits with similar actions."
The funding also circumvents the Local Governance Act, which lays out how a municipality is supposed to deal with deficits, according to the auditor general.
Stop using my grandpa's name, actor Kiefer Sutherland tells Doug Ford
'You're lucky my mum's not active on Twitter,' actor tweets
Kiefer
Sutherland, left, says he's offended by the Ontario Progressive
Conservatives comparing their policies to those of former Saskatchewan
NDP premier Tommy Douglas. (CBC/The Canadian Press)
Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland, the grandson of renowned
former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas, is asking Ontario Premier
Doug Ford and Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod to stop using his grandfather's
name for their own political ends.
MacLeod invoked the premier's memory in a May 31 Financial Post editorial, arguing that Douglas would have approved of Ontario Progressive Conservatives' moves toward fiscal discipline.
Ford quoted from the editorial in a post on Twitter on June 2, and Sutherland responded to both Ford and MacLeod on Monday.
Sutherland's tweet reads:
Mr Ford,
Your tweet has recently come to my attention and I can only tell you that you are correct, my grandfather Tommy Douglas was fiscally responsible. In addition to balancing the budget of Saskatchewan, he also provided the province with paved roads, healthcare and electricity. He did it all within four years. Contrary to your argument, it was never at the expense of social and human services to those in need. I personally find your comparison of your policies to his offensive. So I can only ask, as the grandson of this man, for you to stop posting his picture and using his name as part of your political agenda. After all, I knew Tommy Douglas and you Sir, are no Tommy Douglas.
P.S. You're lucky my mum's not active on Twitter.
Sincerely, Kiefer Sutherland.
MacLeod invoked the premier's memory in a May 31 Financial Post editorial, arguing that Douglas would have approved of Ontario Progressive Conservatives' moves toward fiscal discipline.
Ford quoted from the editorial in a post on Twitter on June 2, and Sutherland responded to both Ford and MacLeod on Monday.
Sutherland's tweet reads:
Mr Ford,
Your tweet has recently come to my attention and I can only tell you that you are correct, my grandfather Tommy Douglas was fiscally responsible. In addition to balancing the budget of Saskatchewan, he also provided the province with paved roads, healthcare and electricity. He did it all within four years. Contrary to your argument, it was never at the expense of social and human services to those in need. I personally find your comparison of your policies to his offensive. So I can only ask, as the grandson of this man, for you to stop posting his picture and using his name as part of your political agenda. After all, I knew Tommy Douglas and you Sir, are no Tommy Douglas.
P.S. You're lucky my mum's not active on Twitter.
Sincerely, Kiefer Sutherland.
Sutherland's mother is Tommy Douglas's daughter, Shirley Douglas, also an actor.
MacLeod fired back on Twitter later Monday, posting a picture of a 2017 bus shelter advertisement for Designated Survivor, which stars Sutherland, and saying she "used to like" the TV show.
"Alas, it's more difficult to be a politician than pretend to be one on TV," she added.
In a statement to CBC, the premier's press secretary Ivana Yelich said the PCs are proud of their financial record.
"After 15 years of waste and mismanagement, Ontario was in precarious fiscal position," she said. "We're proud of our decision to balance the budget in a responsible manner, while showing compassion and protecting what matters most to real Ontarians."
Douglas, who also helped found the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which became the New Democratic Party, is recognized as the father of universal health care in Canada.
MacLeod fired back on Twitter later Monday, posting a picture of a 2017 bus shelter advertisement for Designated Survivor, which stars Sutherland, and saying she "used to like" the TV show.
"Alas, it's more difficult to be a politician than pretend to be one on TV," she added.
I used to like this show- which overtook a very expensive bus shelter ad in fall of 2017 outside Queen’s Park.
Alas, it’s more difficult to be a politician than pretend to be one on TV.
"After 15 years of waste and mismanagement, Ontario was in precarious fiscal position," she said. "We're proud of our decision to balance the budget in a responsible manner, while showing compassion and protecting what matters most to real Ontarians."
Douglas, who also helped found the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, which became the New Democratic Party, is recognized as the father of universal health care in Canada.
No comments:
Post a Comment