OLG executives spending millions on luxuries without proper receipts
Posted June 1, 2010 10:11 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – A new report released by the auditor general shows Ontario Lottery and Gaming corporation executives are spending millions of dollars on meetings, lavish dinners and hotel rooms, with very few receipts or explanations to why the money has been spent.
Auditor General Jim McCarter said employees would mainly overspend on luxury meetings. “Rather than say ordering in a couple of sandwiches or paying for their own lunch, they’d go downstairs and have a fairly expensive meal at a restaurant,” he told 680News
In addition, many were treated to team building exercises at spas, resorts, paintball arcades, and even on a boat cruise. Some enjoyed expensive cars and half a million dollar laptop allowances.
At a single four day corporate meeting, the bosses’ bill came to $500,000, enough to buy over 100,000 Lotto Max tickets.
“Management clearly needs to have a mindset of prudence,” McCarter added. “When you’re spending money, you’ve got to recognize if it’s made public, would it pass the smell test?”
The final bill may be higher than estimated, because many executives ate and slept in hotel rooms using company funds, with no explanation or receipts. McCarter said bosses were not given guidelines, even after asking for them.
Meanwhile, finance minister Dwight Duncan defended how the Liberals handled the scandal, saying their government uncovered the evidence of excess spending in the first place.
“We welcomed the auditor. We asked him to do this. He did a thorough report. We’re delighted with the findings,” he told reporters.
“We’ve taken the right steps with (commission head) Paul Godfrey and the new board to make sure none of this happens again.”
Godfrey released his own statement, saying the report is accurate and fair, and he is working on a fix.
