Why is it so many organizations that receive money from a slush fund set up by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Colle are associated with the Liberal Party of Ontario We may never know because the Liberals defeated two motions for an investigation. Now the only way to shed light on the fund would be to scrap it and criminally investigate it.

For the last two years the McGuinty government quietly has been using extra funds at year end to divert large amounts of cash to a variety of Liberal-friendly community organizations. Last year, it seems, some $12 million was handed to a variety of groups. This year, on the eve of an election, the slush fund was apparently upped by 66% to some $20 million.

The Bengali Cultural Society was handed $250,000. They have strong ties to Liberal MP, Maria Minna.

The Iranian Canadian Cultural Centre was funneled $200,000 three weeks after being registered as an animal rights charity. All seven members of its board donated to the Liberal Party. One of its directors is a Liberal candidate. The fund channeled $24,000 to the Peel Inter-cultural Neighbourhood Social Services. Its website is reportedly owned by a member of the Liberal riding association for Mississauga West and the Executive Director is the partner of Liberal MPP Bob Delaney.

Who knew the grants were available Apparently, only friends of the government. The fund was never an official program and never announced or publicized. In some cases, groups didn't even apply but were simply called and offered money.

What are the grants for No one really knows because there was no formal application form, process or eligibility requirements. Once the cash is moved to an organization there is no accountability either.

How was it decided who would get a grant It seems Ontario Liberal Party membership was, at a minimum, a key driver in many cases.

Does this sound familiar. It is reminiscent of the federal Liberal sponsorship scandal. It is quite ironic that during the same week that Jean Lafleur pleads guilty to 28 counts of fraud related to the federal sponsorship scandal, the provincial Liberals shut down attempts to shed light on their own shenanigans.

When money is handed out in this questionable manner it raises the sprectre of abuse. On the eve of an election a secret program only known to Liberals issues millions of dollars to groups with Liberal ties There are no applications, no rules, and no oversight And now there will be no investigation. If there is nothing to hide and the funding is legitimate then an investigation would allay all concerns.

This further raises the possibility that public funds, directly or indirectly, were being diverterd to the Liberal Party of Ontario. Premier McGuinty defends the sceme saying that being Liberal-friendly shouldn't preclude groups from getting grants. True enough, but a Liberal membership card shouldn't be a requirement for getting a grant either. Until there is an investigation taxpayers may never know how it was decided, who got the cash and where the money went.

Kevin Gaudet, Ontario Director