No Report in over Two Years

Toronto: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today is calling on Premier McGuinty and Public Infrastructure Minister David Caplan to release the annual reports for the past two years for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). "The Premier is stalling on the release of the report for 2005/2006. What is he hiding at the OLG " said Kevin Gaudet, Ontario Director of the CTF. "Given that fraud and scandal have become synonymous with the OLG in recent months, withholding their reports only adds suspicion".

Annual reports provide transparency and accountability of government corporations, detailing expenditures, planned projects and corporate mandates. But since the OLG's 2004/2005 report, nothing has been made public. This comes at a time when OLG executives were both fired and demoted following revelations of widespread fraud and scamming of winnings by lottery employees. This prompted an investigation by Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin leading to a March 2007 report A Game of Trust, which signalled that the lottery industry is vulnerable to exploitation.

Gaudet concluded, "The CTF is demanding the McGuinty government show us its hand. The OLG can not begin to rebuild its credibility until it becomes transparent and accountable."

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For more information please contact:
Kevin Gaudet at 416-203-0030 office or mobile 416-725-0501