Toronto Police Constable Adam Lourenco was charged with impaired.
Constable Lourenco was allegedly found behind the wheel of his vehicle with the motor running, asleep.
critter cartoon
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
OPP commissioner loses court appeal
An adjudicator hearing a messy disciplinary case involving Ontario's top police officer showed no bias and need not step down, the province's highest court ruled Friday.
The decision sided with a lower court that found Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino had failed to prove the adjudicator was unfit to hear the case.
"The Divisional Court found that an informed person viewing the matter realistically and practically — and having thought the matter through — would not conclude there was any apprehension of bias on the part of the adjudicator," the Appeal Court ruled.
"I would go further and say that the events in this case fall far short of the type of conduct that would give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias."
The adjudicator, retired justice Leonard Montgomery, had been hearing the disciplinary case against two senior officers Fantino charged with misconduct.
Fantino was under cross-examination last fall when he accused Montgomery of bias and pressed him to step down.
"This commissioner interrupted his cross-examination 13 months ago for what the Court of Appeal is basically saying was for meritless reasons," defence lawyer Julian Falconer said Friday.
"My clients are simply anxious to finish this case up. Enough is enough."
Fantino's lawyer Tom Curry expressed disappointment at the decision, adding that he would consider now trying to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.
"I certainly haven't ruled such a thing out," Curry said.
"I felt that the case did clearly meet the legal requirements for a finding of a reasonable apprehension of bias."
The defence in the misconduct case against Supt. Ken MacDonald and Insp. Alison Jevons has alleged that Fantino only laid the charges to appease the police union and because he suspected MacDonald of leaking information.
During the disciplinary hearings, Falconer has also accused Fantino of witness tampering and political interference.
"This is a political prosecution and nothing the commissioner has done in the last 13 months in front of the various judges … has done anything other than to simply further confirm their concerns," Falconer said Friday. Fantino has rejected allegations of any untoward conduct on his part.
The hearing saw Montgomery clash with Fantino and prosecutor Brian Gover, who said the provincial attorney general backed his request for the adjudicator to step down.
The bias allegation came when Montgomery expressed concerns after Fantino changed his evidence.
Montgomery in turn complained Gover was trying to intimidate him and decried any government involvement in the quasi-judicial process.
As of Sept. 11, 2009 the Ontario Ministry of Community safety and Correctional Services has spent more than $500,000 on all proceedings stemming from the affair, CBC News has learned.
The labyrinthine affair began in April 2004, when Susan Cole of Gananoque, Ont., called 911 to say her estranged husband, a provincial police sergeant, had taken a baseball bat to her car.
Cole complained the responding officers asked her to leave her home rather than arrest her spouse.
MacDonald and Jevons investigated Cole's complaint, and concluded the responding officers had not followed proper procedure.
CBC.CA
The decision sided with a lower court that found Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino had failed to prove the adjudicator was unfit to hear the case.
"The Divisional Court found that an informed person viewing the matter realistically and practically — and having thought the matter through — would not conclude there was any apprehension of bias on the part of the adjudicator," the Appeal Court ruled.
"I would go further and say that the events in this case fall far short of the type of conduct that would give rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias."
The adjudicator, retired justice Leonard Montgomery, had been hearing the disciplinary case against two senior officers Fantino charged with misconduct.
Fantino was under cross-examination last fall when he accused Montgomery of bias and pressed him to step down.
"This commissioner interrupted his cross-examination 13 months ago for what the Court of Appeal is basically saying was for meritless reasons," defence lawyer Julian Falconer said Friday.
"My clients are simply anxious to finish this case up. Enough is enough."
Fantino's lawyer Tom Curry expressed disappointment at the decision, adding that he would consider now trying to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.
"I certainly haven't ruled such a thing out," Curry said.
"I felt that the case did clearly meet the legal requirements for a finding of a reasonable apprehension of bias."
The defence in the misconduct case against Supt. Ken MacDonald and Insp. Alison Jevons has alleged that Fantino only laid the charges to appease the police union and because he suspected MacDonald of leaking information.
During the disciplinary hearings, Falconer has also accused Fantino of witness tampering and political interference.
"This is a political prosecution and nothing the commissioner has done in the last 13 months in front of the various judges … has done anything other than to simply further confirm their concerns," Falconer said Friday. Fantino has rejected allegations of any untoward conduct on his part.
The hearing saw Montgomery clash with Fantino and prosecutor Brian Gover, who said the provincial attorney general backed his request for the adjudicator to step down.
The bias allegation came when Montgomery expressed concerns after Fantino changed his evidence.
Montgomery in turn complained Gover was trying to intimidate him and decried any government involvement in the quasi-judicial process.
As of Sept. 11, 2009 the Ontario Ministry of Community safety and Correctional Services has spent more than $500,000 on all proceedings stemming from the affair, CBC News has learned.
The labyrinthine affair began in April 2004, when Susan Cole of Gananoque, Ont., called 911 to say her estranged husband, a provincial police sergeant, had taken a baseball bat to her car.
Cole complained the responding officers asked her to leave her home rather than arrest her spouse.
MacDonald and Jevons investigated Cole's complaint, and concluded the responding officers had not followed proper procedure.
CBC.CA
Ontario's deputy health minister resigns!
One of the last remaining figures in Ontario's eHealth controversy has resigned just weeks after he was grilled by a legislature committee about the $1 billion Ontario has spent so far on electronic health records.
Deputy health minister Ron Sapsford, who was appointed to the post in 2005, headed the largest bureaucracy in the Ontario government with a budget of more than $40 billion. He also oversaw the creation of eHealth and served as its interim CEO last summer.
Deb Matthews, the minister of health and long-term care, acknowledged the resignation Friday but didn't provide a reason for Sapsford's departure.
Instead, Matthews thanked Sapsford for his "dedicated commitment to improving the health care for Ontario families."
"As deputy minister of health, he has helped make measurable progress in the speed and quality of health care available to Ontarians," Matthews said in a statement, also crediting Sapsford for helping improve access to front-line health care.
The resignation is effective Jan. 3.
The opposition parties had demanded Sapsford quit for his role in the eHealth scandal, especially after David Caplan was forced to resign as health minister.
Scathing report
Caplan resigned last month, just one day before the auditor general released a scathing report detailing how little value Ontario got for the $1 billion spent trying to create electronic health records.
Former eHealth Ontario CEO Sarah Kramer and board chair Alan Hudson also resigned their positions in June.
Top officials from scandal-plagued eHealth, including eHealth Ontario chair Rita Burak and Sapsford, were called before the legislature's public accounts committee in October to explain the agency's use of outside consultants.
At that time, Burak said taxpayers deserved an apology for the scandal, which involved awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars in untendered contracts to consultants, but stopped short of actually providing one.
She also told the committee eHealth had trimmed the number of consultants to 286 in September from 385 last spring, and promised that number would be reduced to 160 by next spring.
Sapsford said then he didn't see any reason why he should resign, and noted the government was looking into only one contract, valued at $1 million.
He also took issue with opposition claims that all of the money spent so far on electronic health records has been wasted.
CBC.CA
Deputy health minister Ron Sapsford, who was appointed to the post in 2005, headed the largest bureaucracy in the Ontario government with a budget of more than $40 billion. He also oversaw the creation of eHealth and served as its interim CEO last summer.
Deb Matthews, the minister of health and long-term care, acknowledged the resignation Friday but didn't provide a reason for Sapsford's departure.
Instead, Matthews thanked Sapsford for his "dedicated commitment to improving the health care for Ontario families."
"As deputy minister of health, he has helped make measurable progress in the speed and quality of health care available to Ontarians," Matthews said in a statement, also crediting Sapsford for helping improve access to front-line health care.
The resignation is effective Jan. 3.
The opposition parties had demanded Sapsford quit for his role in the eHealth scandal, especially after David Caplan was forced to resign as health minister.
Scathing report
Caplan resigned last month, just one day before the auditor general released a scathing report detailing how little value Ontario got for the $1 billion spent trying to create electronic health records.
Former eHealth Ontario CEO Sarah Kramer and board chair Alan Hudson also resigned their positions in June.
Top officials from scandal-plagued eHealth, including eHealth Ontario chair Rita Burak and Sapsford, were called before the legislature's public accounts committee in October to explain the agency's use of outside consultants.
At that time, Burak said taxpayers deserved an apology for the scandal, which involved awarding of hundreds of millions of dollars in untendered contracts to consultants, but stopped short of actually providing one.
She also told the committee eHealth had trimmed the number of consultants to 286 in September from 385 last spring, and promised that number would be reduced to 160 by next spring.
Sapsford said then he didn't see any reason why he should resign, and noted the government was looking into only one contract, valued at $1 million.
He also took issue with opposition claims that all of the money spent so far on electronic health records has been wasted.
CBC.CA
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Police officer charged in Sarnia
SARNIA, Ont. — A Sarnia police officer, already before the court on other criminal matters, has been arrested and charged with sexual offences.
The charges were laid following an investigation by Chatham-Kent Police Service, Sarnia police said Wednesday.
The unnamed officer is charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference, a Criminal Code offence involving an alleged victim under the age of 14.
Sarnia police said the officer’s name has not been released to protect the identity of the alleged victims.
The officer has been remanded in custody and will appear for a bail hearing in Chatham, Ont. on Thursday.
The Sun
The charges were laid following an investigation by Chatham-Kent Police Service, Sarnia police said Wednesday.
The unnamed officer is charged with two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual interference, a Criminal Code offence involving an alleged victim under the age of 14.
Sarnia police said the officer’s name has not been released to protect the identity of the alleged victims.
The officer has been remanded in custody and will appear for a bail hearing in Chatham, Ont. on Thursday.
The Sun
$1M in untendered contracts tied to top health official
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | 9:19 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Untendered contracts totalling $1 million were awarded by the province to a consulting firm whose top executive was later appointed as one of the government's top health bureaucrats, The Canadian Press has learned.
Helen Stevenson, the assistant deputy minister and executive officer of Ontario's Public Drug Programs, was hired as a consultant in 2005 by the Health Ministry when she was president of Savattuq Inc., a government spokesman confirmed late Tuesday.
Between June 2005 and June 2007, the government gave Savattuq three sole-sourced contracts totalling just over $1 million, according to the provincial public accounts.
Stevenson was hired, in her capacity as a consultant, to head up the province's drug system secretariat, whose purpose was to develop and implement new strategies to manage the province's drug costs, said Health Ministry spokesman David Jensen.
More specifically, the secretariat was charged with producing a "plan of action" that would set directions for the province's drug system, including the Ontario Drug Benefits Program, over five to 10 years, Jensen said in an email.
The three contracts to Savattuq were sole-sourced "given the urgent need to move forward with transformational changes to the drug program," he said.
Those changes led to legislation — the Transparent Drug System for Patients Act — which has saved the province almost $700 million over two years, he said.
Contracts allowed at the time, government says
At the time, untendered contracts were permitted, Jensen said.
Premier Dalton McGuinty changed those rules recently after millions in untendered contracts at eHealth Ontario were brought to light.
Stevenson was appointed assistant deputy minister on June 14, 2007, after an open competition, and took over the executive director job from deputy minister of health Ron Sapsford, Jensen said.
The contract with Stevenson, who makes $275,717 a year in her current job plus $473.28 in benefits, was cancelled after her appointment, he said.
Ivan Langrish, a spokesman for Health Minister Deb Matthews, acknowledged that the contracts were sole-sourced.
"I think it's actually really a good thing," he said.
"We took someone basically from the private sector, had them then join the public sector to undergo basically a transformation of our drug strategy and look what we've managed to do. What we've managed to do is save some $700 million."
News of this latest untendered contract comes in the aftermath of a spending scandal over electronic health records at eHealth, where millions of dollars went out the door in untendered contracts.
The government is also looking to cut costs in an effort to tame a projected $24.7 billion deficit this year — the largest in the province's history.
NDP pans consultant 'addiction'
The Savattuq contracts and Stevenson's promotion raise serious questions about whether the governing Liberals are hiding a secret agenda to slash drug benefits, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
The government is still concealing an untendered, $750,000 report by McKinsey & Co. into cost-cutting for generic drugs, which could end up cutting drug benefits to seniors and welfare recipients, Horwath said.
"It seems to me that it's just another example of this addiction that the government has to hiring consultants," Horvath added.
Langrish insists the government isn't looking to cut drug benefits with the McKinsey report.
"It has nothing to do with that," he said. "It's really trying to reduce the costs of generic drugs, reducing those costs as much as we possibly can because we're paying too much for drugs here."
The governing Liberals may think the Savattuq contracts were good value for money, but taxpayers are tired of seeing them bend the rules, said Progressive Conservative health critic Christine Elliott.
"Everything in health can presumably be said to be urgent because there are many pressing matters," she said.
"But the rules still need to be followed. The end doesn't justify the means."
Matthews has declined to make the McKinsey report public, saying the gist of its findings can be found on slides posted on the her ministry's website.
Those are based on a July presentation by Sapsford, which talks about delivering value for money in the provincial drug system, but makes no reference to McKinsey or the agency's recommendations.
A call to Stevenson's office for comment was not immediately returned Tuesday
CBC.CA
The Canadian Press
Untendered contracts totalling $1 million were awarded by the province to a consulting firm whose top executive was later appointed as one of the government's top health bureaucrats, The Canadian Press has learned.
Helen Stevenson, the assistant deputy minister and executive officer of Ontario's Public Drug Programs, was hired as a consultant in 2005 by the Health Ministry when she was president of Savattuq Inc., a government spokesman confirmed late Tuesday.
Between June 2005 and June 2007, the government gave Savattuq three sole-sourced contracts totalling just over $1 million, according to the provincial public accounts.
Stevenson was hired, in her capacity as a consultant, to head up the province's drug system secretariat, whose purpose was to develop and implement new strategies to manage the province's drug costs, said Health Ministry spokesman David Jensen.
More specifically, the secretariat was charged with producing a "plan of action" that would set directions for the province's drug system, including the Ontario Drug Benefits Program, over five to 10 years, Jensen said in an email.
The three contracts to Savattuq were sole-sourced "given the urgent need to move forward with transformational changes to the drug program," he said.
Those changes led to legislation — the Transparent Drug System for Patients Act — which has saved the province almost $700 million over two years, he said.
Contracts allowed at the time, government says
At the time, untendered contracts were permitted, Jensen said.
Premier Dalton McGuinty changed those rules recently after millions in untendered contracts at eHealth Ontario were brought to light.
Stevenson was appointed assistant deputy minister on June 14, 2007, after an open competition, and took over the executive director job from deputy minister of health Ron Sapsford, Jensen said.
The contract with Stevenson, who makes $275,717 a year in her current job plus $473.28 in benefits, was cancelled after her appointment, he said.
Ivan Langrish, a spokesman for Health Minister Deb Matthews, acknowledged that the contracts were sole-sourced.
"I think it's actually really a good thing," he said.
"We took someone basically from the private sector, had them then join the public sector to undergo basically a transformation of our drug strategy and look what we've managed to do. What we've managed to do is save some $700 million."
News of this latest untendered contract comes in the aftermath of a spending scandal over electronic health records at eHealth, where millions of dollars went out the door in untendered contracts.
The government is also looking to cut costs in an effort to tame a projected $24.7 billion deficit this year — the largest in the province's history.
NDP pans consultant 'addiction'
The Savattuq contracts and Stevenson's promotion raise serious questions about whether the governing Liberals are hiding a secret agenda to slash drug benefits, said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
The government is still concealing an untendered, $750,000 report by McKinsey & Co. into cost-cutting for generic drugs, which could end up cutting drug benefits to seniors and welfare recipients, Horwath said.
"It seems to me that it's just another example of this addiction that the government has to hiring consultants," Horvath added.
Langrish insists the government isn't looking to cut drug benefits with the McKinsey report.
"It has nothing to do with that," he said. "It's really trying to reduce the costs of generic drugs, reducing those costs as much as we possibly can because we're paying too much for drugs here."
The governing Liberals may think the Savattuq contracts were good value for money, but taxpayers are tired of seeing them bend the rules, said Progressive Conservative health critic Christine Elliott.
"Everything in health can presumably be said to be urgent because there are many pressing matters," she said.
"But the rules still need to be followed. The end doesn't justify the means."
Matthews has declined to make the McKinsey report public, saying the gist of its findings can be found on slides posted on the her ministry's website.
Those are based on a July presentation by Sapsford, which talks about delivering value for money in the provincial drug system, but makes no reference to McKinsey or the agency's recommendations.
A call to Stevenson's office for comment was not immediately returned Tuesday
CBC.CA
Friday, October 30, 2009
Union barks back at SIU
Says watchdog charging more cops in '09 to look tougher
The province's Special Investigations Unit and its director Ian Scott are charging more cops across the province to "fulfil a political agenda," Toronto's police union boss charges.
An attempt to make it look like the SIU is tougher on cops after the provincial ombudsman called it a "toothless tiger" may have resulted in some officers being wrongly charged, Mike McCormack and union lawyer Peter Brauti argue.
McCormack, who was elected to lead the 8,300-member Toronto Police Association earlier this month, told the Sun yesterday that the union is now taking the "unprecedented step" of independently reviewing all cases of Toronto Police officers who have been charged in 2009.
After reviewing those cases, they'll decide if they want to investigate others.
The union's criticism of the SIU comes in a year that has so far seen six Toronto officers charged by the police watchdog compared to none last year.
"There's an appearance that our members, based on the information that we have right now, that they're being charged to fulfil a political agenda of the director, Ian Scott," McCormack said.
"We're concerned right now with the overcharging -- that there are already some officers wrongfully charged," Brauti said.
SIU spokesman Monica Hudon said SIU investigations are motivated only by evidence.
"With respect to the higher number of charges, the Special Investigations Unit approaches each investigation with objectivity and without a bias of criminality," Hudon said.
According to the SIU data cited by Hudon, no Toronto officers were charged in 2008, while two (one a former Toronto Police officer) were charged in 2007. No Toronto cops were charged by the SIU in 2006. One was charged in 2005 and one in 2004.
So far in 2009, 13 officers across the province have been charged by the SIU. That's compared to three in 2008, six in 2007, two in 2006, three in 2005 and three in 2004.
Scott, a former Crown and defence lawyer, took over in October 2008 from outgoing SIU director James Cornish, who had served since 2004.
Scott wasn't available to comment yesterday.
The cop union leaders believe Scott is trying to make the SIU look like it is cracking down after Ombudsman Andre Marin's September 2008 report raised questions of whether the SIU was too lenient on police.
"We believe the political agenda is to justify his leadership of the SIU and we also feel it's a knee-jerk reaction to the Marin report," McCormack said.
McCormack and Brauti refused to say which specific cases were fuelling their claims, saying they are before the courts.
The six Toronto officers charged by the SIU so far in 2009 include:
* Const. Allan Racette was charged with assault after a suspected car thief was allegedly injured during his arrest.
* Consts. Edward Ing and John Cruz were each slapped with a charge of assault causing bodily harm after Gerrard St. resident Richard Moore was hospitalized after an altercation with police.
* Const. Boris Petkovic was charged with aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent in connection with an incident involving Toronto man Phabien Rhodius. The SIU alleges that Petkovic fired his gun twice at Rhodius, who was injured as a result. He later turned himself into police and when released from custody, contacted the SIU.
* Const. Ricardo Gomez was charged after a police chase that sent three people to hospital.
* Const. Jason Goss was charged after a 30-year-old man was allegedly injured during an arrest at Bloor St. W. and St. Clarens Ave.
The SIU, a civilian law enforcement agency that reports to the attorney general, investigates cases involving police that have resulted in serious injury, sexual assault or death.
McCormack accused the SIU of laying charges against officers when there has been no civilian injury and no possibility of criminal wrongdoing.
He also said officers have had their charter rights violated, personal property seized without warrants, and investigators have entered homes without a search warrant or consent.
"We're concerned about the erosion of officers' rights because if you go from a starting point that an SIU investigation is a criminal investigation, then there's no reason why those officers involved in those investigations deserve any less rights than anyone else," Brauti said.
Both the Toronto Police Association and the Ontario Provincial Police Association said they respect the role of the SIU, although McCormack said Toronto cops are feeling "mistrust" and "frustration" toward the organization.
BRETT.CLARKSON@SUNMEDIA.CA
Toronto Sun
The province's Special Investigations Unit and its director Ian Scott are charging more cops across the province to "fulfil a political agenda," Toronto's police union boss charges.
An attempt to make it look like the SIU is tougher on cops after the provincial ombudsman called it a "toothless tiger" may have resulted in some officers being wrongly charged, Mike McCormack and union lawyer Peter Brauti argue.
McCormack, who was elected to lead the 8,300-member Toronto Police Association earlier this month, told the Sun yesterday that the union is now taking the "unprecedented step" of independently reviewing all cases of Toronto Police officers who have been charged in 2009.
After reviewing those cases, they'll decide if they want to investigate others.
The union's criticism of the SIU comes in a year that has so far seen six Toronto officers charged by the police watchdog compared to none last year.
"There's an appearance that our members, based on the information that we have right now, that they're being charged to fulfil a political agenda of the director, Ian Scott," McCormack said.
"We're concerned right now with the overcharging -- that there are already some officers wrongfully charged," Brauti said.
SIU spokesman Monica Hudon said SIU investigations are motivated only by evidence.
"With respect to the higher number of charges, the Special Investigations Unit approaches each investigation with objectivity and without a bias of criminality," Hudon said.
According to the SIU data cited by Hudon, no Toronto officers were charged in 2008, while two (one a former Toronto Police officer) were charged in 2007. No Toronto cops were charged by the SIU in 2006. One was charged in 2005 and one in 2004.
So far in 2009, 13 officers across the province have been charged by the SIU. That's compared to three in 2008, six in 2007, two in 2006, three in 2005 and three in 2004.
Scott, a former Crown and defence lawyer, took over in October 2008 from outgoing SIU director James Cornish, who had served since 2004.
Scott wasn't available to comment yesterday.
The cop union leaders believe Scott is trying to make the SIU look like it is cracking down after Ombudsman Andre Marin's September 2008 report raised questions of whether the SIU was too lenient on police.
"We believe the political agenda is to justify his leadership of the SIU and we also feel it's a knee-jerk reaction to the Marin report," McCormack said.
McCormack and Brauti refused to say which specific cases were fuelling their claims, saying they are before the courts.
The six Toronto officers charged by the SIU so far in 2009 include:
* Const. Allan Racette was charged with assault after a suspected car thief was allegedly injured during his arrest.
* Consts. Edward Ing and John Cruz were each slapped with a charge of assault causing bodily harm after Gerrard St. resident Richard Moore was hospitalized after an altercation with police.
* Const. Boris Petkovic was charged with aggravated assault and discharging a firearm with intent in connection with an incident involving Toronto man Phabien Rhodius. The SIU alleges that Petkovic fired his gun twice at Rhodius, who was injured as a result. He later turned himself into police and when released from custody, contacted the SIU.
* Const. Ricardo Gomez was charged after a police chase that sent three people to hospital.
* Const. Jason Goss was charged after a 30-year-old man was allegedly injured during an arrest at Bloor St. W. and St. Clarens Ave.
The SIU, a civilian law enforcement agency that reports to the attorney general, investigates cases involving police that have resulted in serious injury, sexual assault or death.
McCormack accused the SIU of laying charges against officers when there has been no civilian injury and no possibility of criminal wrongdoing.
He also said officers have had their charter rights violated, personal property seized without warrants, and investigators have entered homes without a search warrant or consent.
"We're concerned about the erosion of officers' rights because if you go from a starting point that an SIU investigation is a criminal investigation, then there's no reason why those officers involved in those investigations deserve any less rights than anyone else," Brauti said.
Both the Toronto Police Association and the Ontario Provincial Police Association said they respect the role of the SIU, although McCormack said Toronto cops are feeling "mistrust" and "frustration" toward the organization.
BRETT.CLARKSON@SUNMEDIA.CA
Toronto Sun
McGuinty defends $81M Windsor Energy Centre
Premier Dalton McGuinty is defending an untendered, $81-million contract for an energy centre built to power a casino in Windsor.
He says his government took the right steps when awarding the contract for the Windsor Energy Centre "under the circumstances," because it had to keep the lights on at Caesars Windsor.
McGuinty says he's ended the practice of giving out contracts without competitive bids and that handing a sole-sourced deal to a consulting firm to operate the power plant was a special case.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, who represents the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh, has come under fire in recent weeks for the soaring cost of the energy centre, which he admits came in way over budget.
The Opposition has suggested that the plant, which was commissioned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., amounts to political pork-barrelling, which Duncan denies.
Buttcon Energy Inc., which operated the plant until recently, has filed a $355-million lawsuit against the OLG alleging breach of contract.
Angus Consulting Management Ltd. is currently operating the plant in the short term.
CBC.CA
He says his government took the right steps when awarding the contract for the Windsor Energy Centre "under the circumstances," because it had to keep the lights on at Caesars Windsor.
McGuinty says he's ended the practice of giving out contracts without competitive bids and that handing a sole-sourced deal to a consulting firm to operate the power plant was a special case.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, who represents the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh, has come under fire in recent weeks for the soaring cost of the energy centre, which he admits came in way over budget.
The Opposition has suggested that the plant, which was commissioned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., amounts to political pork-barrelling, which Duncan denies.
Buttcon Energy Inc., which operated the plant until recently, has filed a $355-million lawsuit against the OLG alleging breach of contract.
Angus Consulting Management Ltd. is currently operating the plant in the short term.
CBC.CA
Thursday, October 29, 2009
DBRS Downgrades Province of Ontario to AA (low) and R-1 (middle) on Continued Fiscal Erosion
DBRS has downgraded the long-term rating of the Province of Ontario (the Province or Ontario) to AA (low) from AA as a result of the considerable erosion reported today in the Province’s already depressed debt and fiscal outlooks. While the trend on the short-term rating was held Stable when the long-term trend was revised to Negative last June, DBRS has also downgraded the short-term rating to R-1 (middle) due to the extent of the deficits now foreseen for the next three years and the pressure this is expected to place on the borrowing program, which will require a much greater use of short-term debt. The long-term ratings of the Ontario School Boards Financing Corporation, Ontario Power Authority, University Health Network, MaRS Development Trust and the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation are also being downgraded by one notch given their strong ties to the Province. All trends are now Stable.
Based on the Q2 2009 update, the Province is now looking at a deficit of nearly $32 billion or 5.6% of GDP for this year on a DBRS-adjusted basis (including capital expenditures on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than as amortized), up 50% from the forecast available at the time of the budget. This also marks a notable deterioration from the Q1 2009 update released last June, which captured the effect of the auto sector bailout and rapidly declining tax revenues and led DBRS to change its trend on the long-term rating to Negative from Stable. The latest revisions are primarily the result of dampening tax collection due in part to the ongoing recession, and increased pressure on social program spending. Faced with a weaker-than-expected tax base, the Province has also trimmed its medium-term outlook, with DBRS-adjusted shortfalls of $27 billion to $30 billion now expected for the next two years, up from previous estimates of $17 billion to $21 billion.
Total debt as measured by DBRS is now projected to increase by 22% in 2009-2010 alone, and by 11% to 14% over the following two fiscal years. This will in turn boost Ontario’s debt-to-GDP-ratio from 29% at March 31, 2009, to approximately 37% by fiscal year-end, the third-highest level of all provinces, and to a peak as high as 43% by 2011-2012, well in excess of the level recorded at the onset of the early 1990s recession.
DBRS continues to take comfort in the scale and diversification of the provincial economy and expects Ontario to eventually regain its place among the provincial growth leaders. However, the uncertain pace of the global economic recovery still points to downside risk for the rest of the fiscal year, especially for Ontario given the adverse effect the strong Canadian dollar has on its large manufacturing base. More importantly, the limited success at containing in-year expenditure pressure raises considerable doubt about the Province’s fiscal resolve and ability to return to balance by 2015-16, as projected in the spring budget. Furthermore, the poor performance foreseen for the years to come will boost the debt burden to the highest level on record. As such, in the absence of notable tax increases or a meaningful effort to rein in expenditures, restoring the debt burden to the level enjoyed by the Province prior to the downturn could take more than a decade.
Notes:
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
The applicable methodology is Rating Canadian Provincial Governments, which can be found on our website under Methodologies.
This is a Corporate (Public Finance) rating.
For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrs.com or contact us at info@dbrs.com.
DBRS.COM
Based on the Q2 2009 update, the Province is now looking at a deficit of nearly $32 billion or 5.6% of GDP for this year on a DBRS-adjusted basis (including capital expenditures on a pay-as-you-go basis rather than as amortized), up 50% from the forecast available at the time of the budget. This also marks a notable deterioration from the Q1 2009 update released last June, which captured the effect of the auto sector bailout and rapidly declining tax revenues and led DBRS to change its trend on the long-term rating to Negative from Stable. The latest revisions are primarily the result of dampening tax collection due in part to the ongoing recession, and increased pressure on social program spending. Faced with a weaker-than-expected tax base, the Province has also trimmed its medium-term outlook, with DBRS-adjusted shortfalls of $27 billion to $30 billion now expected for the next two years, up from previous estimates of $17 billion to $21 billion.
Total debt as measured by DBRS is now projected to increase by 22% in 2009-2010 alone, and by 11% to 14% over the following two fiscal years. This will in turn boost Ontario’s debt-to-GDP-ratio from 29% at March 31, 2009, to approximately 37% by fiscal year-end, the third-highest level of all provinces, and to a peak as high as 43% by 2011-2012, well in excess of the level recorded at the onset of the early 1990s recession.
DBRS continues to take comfort in the scale and diversification of the provincial economy and expects Ontario to eventually regain its place among the provincial growth leaders. However, the uncertain pace of the global economic recovery still points to downside risk for the rest of the fiscal year, especially for Ontario given the adverse effect the strong Canadian dollar has on its large manufacturing base. More importantly, the limited success at containing in-year expenditure pressure raises considerable doubt about the Province’s fiscal resolve and ability to return to balance by 2015-16, as projected in the spring budget. Furthermore, the poor performance foreseen for the years to come will boost the debt burden to the highest level on record. As such, in the absence of notable tax increases or a meaningful effort to rein in expenditures, restoring the debt burden to the level enjoyed by the Province prior to the downturn could take more than a decade.
Notes:
All figures are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.
The applicable methodology is Rating Canadian Provincial Governments, which can be found on our website under Methodologies.
This is a Corporate (Public Finance) rating.
For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrs.com or contact us at info@dbrs.com.
DBRS.COM
Monday, October 26, 2009
MPP faces charge after traffic accident
Monday, October 26, 2009
A member of the Ontario legislature is facing a charge after a traffic accident on Friday.
Liberal MPP Kuldip Kular, who represents the riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton, northwest of Toronto, will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident, Peel regional police said.
Police say a car struck a pedestrian at about 7 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses told police the driver apparently got out of his car and spoke to the pedestrian, who was not seriously injured. A few minutes later the driver got back in his car and drove away.
Police say the driver did not provide all of the information required under the circumstances and will be charged with failing to remain.
The charge is not a criminal offence. Police say Kular will be issued a ticket with a court date.
If he is convicted, he could face a fine.
CBC.CA
A member of the Ontario legislature is facing a charge after a traffic accident on Friday.
Liberal MPP Kuldip Kular, who represents the riding of Bramalea-Gore-Malton, northwest of Toronto, will be charged with leaving the scene of an accident, Peel regional police said.
Police say a car struck a pedestrian at about 7 p.m. Friday.
Witnesses told police the driver apparently got out of his car and spoke to the pedestrian, who was not seriously injured. A few minutes later the driver got back in his car and drove away.
Police say the driver did not provide all of the information required under the circumstances and will be charged with failing to remain.
The charge is not a criminal offence. Police say Kular will be issued a ticket with a court date.
If he is convicted, he could face a fine.
CBC.CA
Toronto cops face assault charges
Monday, October 26, 2009
Two Toronto police officers are facing assault charges following an incident earlier this year.
Const. Edward Ing and Const. John Cruz, were dealing with an individual on Gerrard Street East on April 24, at about 11 p.m., when they were approached by Richard Moore.
Moore, 58, exchanged words with the officers. An altercation ensued and Moore was taken St. Michael's Hospital for treatment of injuries.
The province's Special Investigations Unit was called in to investigate and on Monday it issued a news release saying assault charges have been laid against Ing and Cruz.
The two officers will make their first court appearances in November.
CBC.CA
Two Toronto police officers are facing assault charges following an incident earlier this year.
Const. Edward Ing and Const. John Cruz, were dealing with an individual on Gerrard Street East on April 24, at about 11 p.m., when they were approached by Richard Moore.
Moore, 58, exchanged words with the officers. An altercation ensued and Moore was taken St. Michael's Hospital for treatment of injuries.
The province's Special Investigations Unit was called in to investigate and on Monday it issued a news release saying assault charges have been laid against Ing and Cruz.
The two officers will make their first court appearances in November.
CBC.CA
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No more taxes after HST...I promise!
They had No Choice!
They wore these or I took away thier toys for 7 days!
No kidding!
"Damn Street Racer"pays with Brusies
