Ontario's auditor general is linking the awarding of millions of dollars in untendered contracts by the agency tasked with creating electronic health records to Premier Dalton McGuinty.
Jim McCarter says the board of directors at eHealth Ontario felt it had little power over CEO Sarah Kramer because she had been hired by chairman Alan Hudson ``with the support of the premier.''
The auditor general's scathing report into the $1 billion Ontario has spent so far trying to create electronic health records says Kramer felt she had approval to ignore normal procurement procedures.
McCarter says allegations of favouritism in awarding of untendered consulting contracts were "largely true,'' and when they were tendered, favourite firms were allowed to bid twice to win.
Health Minister David Caplan resigned Tuesday in advance of today's report by the auditor.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Mining Act Concerns
An opposition critic is suggesting there wasn't enough debate on reforms to Ontario's Mining Act.
Progressive Conservative Randy Hillier says the government ended discussion too soon.
He says several stakeholders still have problems with the bill.
Hillier is also taking issue with the way hearings were conducted into the Far North Act, a bill that would lock up to 42 per cent of Ontario's landmass from development.
Progressive Conservative Randy Hillier says the government ended discussion too soon.
He says several stakeholders still have problems with the bill.
Hillier is also taking issue with the way hearings were conducted into the Far North Act, a bill that would lock up to 42 per cent of Ontario's landmass from development.
Tobacco Bill Passes Senate
A law that started through lobbying by the former youth anti-smoking lobby group Youth Action Alliance is one step closer to being realized.
The Senate has passed a bill that would ban flavours and additives in cigars and cigarettes
Bill C-32, also known as the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, would ban all flavours and additives in tobacco products except for menthol.
The legislation unanimously passed the House of Commons in June with the support of all three opposition parties.
The Senate has passed a bill that would ban flavours and additives in cigars and cigarettes
Bill C-32, also known as the Cracking Down on Tobacco Marketing Aimed at Youth Act, would ban all flavours and additives in tobacco products except for menthol.
The legislation unanimously passed the House of Commons in June with the support of all three opposition parties.
Health Minister Quits
Ontario's Health Minister David Caplan has quit just hours before the auditor general releases his report on how the province spent a billion dollars trying to create electronic health records.
Auditor General Jim McCarter was asked to investigate e-Health Ontario last June amid reports about millions of dollars in untendered contracts given to consultants.
The opposition have been calling for Caplan's head since the details of excessive spending at e-Health surfaced.
Auditor General Jim McCarter was asked to investigate e-Health Ontario last June amid reports about millions of dollars in untendered contracts given to consultants.
The opposition have been calling for Caplan's head since the details of excessive spending at e-Health surfaced.
Lease Agreement Signed.
The city of International Falls has finalized its portion of a lease for the development of new headquarters for staff at Voyageurs National Park.
The financial details of the 203-page agreement with the federal government won't be released until its signed by the U.S. General Services Administration, but does take into account more than 40-thousand rentable square feet on the nearly 10-acre site along the Rainy River.
It also calls for the city to own the building which will be paid for through lease payments.
The financial details of the 203-page agreement with the federal government won't be released until its signed by the U.S. General Services Administration, but does take into account more than 40-thousand rentable square feet on the nearly 10-acre site along the Rainy River.
It also calls for the city to own the building which will be paid for through lease payments.
Fire Investigation Unfinished
It appears reports that an investigation into a fatal fire in Fort Frances has concluded may have been premature.
An OPP release issued yesterday indicated the Fire's Marshall's office had finished its work, ruling last Wednesday evening's blaze at the Lakeview Trailer Court as not being suspicious in nature.
But when asked for an exact cause, a spokesperson with the O.F.M. told CFOB News those details could not be released at this time because the investigation is still ongoing.
64-year-old Aldon Morphet died in the fire as the result of smoke inhalation.
An OPP release issued yesterday indicated the Fire's Marshall's office had finished its work, ruling last Wednesday evening's blaze at the Lakeview Trailer Court as not being suspicious in nature.
But when asked for an exact cause, a spokesperson with the O.F.M. told CFOB News those details could not be released at this time because the investigation is still ongoing.
64-year-old Aldon Morphet died in the fire as the result of smoke inhalation.
College Vote Today
Voting will take place today at Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances for its part-time support staff.
The workers are voting on whether to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
College workers spokesperson Richard Belleau says joining OPSEU could lead to benefits workers currently don't enjoy.
"At lot of issues surrounding job security," say Belleau, "working from one contract to the next and regular hours are not consistent. They would be looking to improve those sorts of things."
The certification vote is part of a province-wide campaign by OPSEU to unionized part-time employees at all of Ontario colleges.
Voting is scheduled to wrap up at the end of this month.
The workers are voting on whether to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
College workers spokesperson Richard Belleau says joining OPSEU could lead to benefits workers currently don't enjoy.
"At lot of issues surrounding job security," say Belleau, "working from one contract to the next and regular hours are not consistent. They would be looking to improve those sorts of things."
The certification vote is part of a province-wide campaign by OPSEU to unionized part-time employees at all of Ontario colleges.
Voting is scheduled to wrap up at the end of this month.
Sunny Cover Purpose Proposal Outlined
The town of Fort Frances is looking to take over the Kiwanis-owned Sunny Cove Camp for the sum of just one dollar.
The purchase price was outlined by the town at a public meeting on the proposed acquisition last night.
CAO Mark McCaig says the town's also looking to spend more than $100-thousand in upgrades and to promote increased usage.
"We are going to try to enhance the booking schedule by filling up some of the traditional shoulder months at the start and end of the season," says McCaig. "We will try to market the available of that for potential education and seminar sessions."
Declining membership forced the Fort Frances Kiwanis club to enter into talks with the town almost a year ago.
Long-time Kiwanian Doctor Robert Lidkea says the club will still to be a part of a new advisory committee that will make recommendations to the town on such things as user fees.
"One scenario that we are looking at is that the town, this year, may charge full fee to everybody," says Lidkea, "but the Kiwanis Club may subsidize the youth group as they go in so that they should not pay anymore than they've paid in the past."
Lidkea adds groups who have used the facility on a continual basis will still be able to do so, except bookings would be made through the town.
Council is to vote on the proposed purchase at its meeting next Tuesday.
The purchase price was outlined by the town at a public meeting on the proposed acquisition last night.
CAO Mark McCaig says the town's also looking to spend more than $100-thousand in upgrades and to promote increased usage.
"We are going to try to enhance the booking schedule by filling up some of the traditional shoulder months at the start and end of the season," says McCaig. "We will try to market the available of that for potential education and seminar sessions."
Declining membership forced the Fort Frances Kiwanis club to enter into talks with the town almost a year ago.
Long-time Kiwanian Doctor Robert Lidkea says the club will still to be a part of a new advisory committee that will make recommendations to the town on such things as user fees.
"One scenario that we are looking at is that the town, this year, may charge full fee to everybody," says Lidkea, "but the Kiwanis Club may subsidize the youth group as they go in so that they should not pay anymore than they've paid in the past."
Lidkea adds groups who have used the facility on a continual basis will still be able to do so, except bookings would be made through the town.
Council is to vote on the proposed purchase at its meeting next Tuesday.
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