Ontario Minister Resigns After Grant Scandal
Posted July 27, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle quit after a scathing report from Ontario ‘s auditor general criticizing millions of dollars in grants.
Jim McCarter, who wrote the report, says while there was no evidence the money was given to Liberal-friendly ethnic groups, the handling of the $32 million in year-end grants was not ‘open, transparent or accountable’.
In one case, a cricket club asked for $150,000 and received $1 million, which it still has not completely spent.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says he remains friends with Colle but his resignation was the ‘right thing to do’.
Colle was replaced immediately by Government Services Minister Gerry Phillips, who will be running both ministries until the October 11 election.
