Well just maybe.
I am speaking of course about the MARS Scandal currently enveloping the Party of Scandals – Ontario’s Own … The Liberal Party led by Kathleen Wynne and Dalton McGuinty.
By Their Sub-standards this scandal is relatively small … merely half a billion dollars which of course pales compared to the multi billion dollar fiascos we have come to expect from them but this one is important for the fact that it has come out with mere days left in the Ontario Election Campaign.
And it was revealed by the best Tory in the ranks .. Frank Klees, sadly he who has decided not to run in this Election. He did though leave his hapless Leader with a well timed gift.
Even the Liberal Banner aka the Toronto Star, was aghast at Wynne and company’s temerity.
Here are the facts:
- MaRS Discovery District is a non-profit organization with a supposed mandate to promote technology and medical research.
- The Liberals initially gave MaRS a loan guarantee of $234 million as well as an additional $150 mill “in related expenses” to invest in an Office Tower to be located in the Queen’s Park District.
- The money went to an American Development Company which then defaulted on repayment for lack of tenants.
- You, the Ontario Electorate - has just inherited the office tower and all the expenses associated therewith.
What this has to do with promoting the MaRS Mandate “technology and medical research” beats me and I expect you too.
A Whistle Blower in the Government Cabinet Docs Section didn’t like it either and brought it to Klees’ attention.
Wynne scoffed it all off calling the Government’s support of MaRS and the American Developer “a responsible decision” and said it would allow for the consolidation of government workers in the empty tower.
Pardon me, but I do not see – the consolidation of government workers in high priced real estate - to be part of the MaRS mandate.
And all this occurring with yesterday’s Ipsos Reid Poll showing the Provincial Tories taking the lead and all in advance of this coming Tuesday’s Leaders’ Debate.
Now to be fair to the Liberals, MaRS was not an invention of theirs. Indeed, it dates back to the short-lived Tory Government of Ernie Eves but I do not think anyone then envisaged how the current day Grits would improperly make use of it.
Regardless, as for me, MaRS should be returned to its own orbit…
As I see it …
‘K.D. Galagher’