Premier Doug Ford's Ontario

[afransen]

FOI request finds no proof of work from Mark Saunders as Ontario Place special advisor

A FOI request from NDP MPP Chris Glover found that there were no recommendations, reports or advice from Mark Saunders to Premier Doug Ford or the Minister of Tourism while he was a Special Advisor on Ontario Place development.

toronto.citynews.ca

FOI finds no evidence that Mark Saunders provided any tangible special advice.

Isn't this fraud and embezzlement?

 

[DSC]

FOI request finds no proof of work from Mark Saunders as Ontario Place special advisor

A FOI request from NDP MPP Chris Glover found that there were no recommendations, reports or advice from Mark Saunders to Premier Doug Ford or the Minister of Tourism while he was a Special Advisor on Ontario Place development.

toronto.citynews.ca

FOI finds no evidence that Mark Saunders provided any tangible special advice.

What is surprising is that anyone even expected anything useful from him. He was a less than stellar police chief so why he was appointed (and paid) to advise on OP is 'puzzling" - I guess he was not a developer so other ways had to be found to get him up to the trough..

 

[vic]

They could have at least pulled a "Mike Ehrmantraut working as security consultant for Madrigal Automotive" scam, a la Better Call Saul. This government needs to watch and learn from better crime shows.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

FOI request finds no proof of work from Mark Saunders as Ontario Place special advisor

A FOI request from NDP MPP Chris Glover found that there were no recommendations, reports or advice from Mark Saunders to Premier Doug Ford or the Minister of Tourism while he was a Special Advisor on Ontario Place development.

toronto.citynews.ca

FOI finds no evidence that Mark Saunders provided any tangible special advice.

To be fair, it's probably a good thing that he didn't.

AoD

 

[elcorrerador]

To be fair, it's probably a good thing that he didn't.

AoD

I was looking forward to a new OPP vehicle color tbh.

 

[ShonTron]

Now I want to know what Hazel McCallion actually did when she was a paid government advisor.

 

[Thinker]

Isn't this fraud and embezzlement?

Yes, he should be refunding the money, he got paid but never delivered the goods. Not a realistic expectation under this government. It's not called FraudNation without reason.

 

[old boy]

Now I want to know what Hazel McCallion actually did when she was a paid government advisor.

Lessons on ' Git-R-Done'.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Now I want to know what Hazel McCallion actually did when she was a paid government advisor.

She probably advised them who to name the next transit line/legislative act/etc for.

AoD

 

[lenaitch]

I was looking forward to a new OPP vehicle color tbh.

And the former chief of Toronto PS, hired to advise on Ontario Place, would have anything to do with that how?

Isn't this fraud and embezzlement?

Only if you could prove criminal intent (for the fraud - no such crime per se as 'embezzlement).

 

[afransen]

Only if you could prove criminal intent (for the fraud - no such crime per se as 'embezzlement).

Is taking government funds and giving it to a friend not embezzlement?

Is taking payment for a job that you don't perform any services for not fraud?

 

[picard102]

Is taking payment for a job that you don't perform any services for not fraud?

What was his job though?

According to the article, he had no mandate or requirement to produce reports, but led weekly meetings.
The article also claims he was contracted for 170k and only received 70k of that.

 

[lenaitch]

Is taking government funds and giving it to a friend not embezzlement?

Criminally, it can be a lot of things, if proven, but if you can find the offence of "embezzlement" in Canadian law, I'll give you a lollypop. That was my point.

Is taking payment for a job that you don't perform any services for not fraud?

It depends. What were the terms of the performance contract? What he mandated to produce a report? What timeline? Was the contract terminated by either party before its natural expiry date and before any stated duties had a chance to be performed? The devil is always in the details. If you own a business and hire an absolute slug of an employee, you don't get to charge him criminally.

 

[Northern Light]

As a follow on to @lenaitch 's excellent post, I found this summary on a law firm's site, that I liked:

They also have a list of examples:

Credit for the above: https://www.criminallawyervancouver...cial-crimes/theft-from-employer-embezzlement/

 

[Northern Light]

Well the Greenbelt Scandal is the gift that keeps on giving for the Premier.........

The RCMP have formally opened a criminal investigation.

RCMP launches criminal investigation into Doug Ford’s Greenbelt land swap

The RCMP has launched a criminal investigation into Premier Doug Ford’s $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap scandal.

www.thestar.com

Of course, the above may not lead to any charges; and/or the investigation may not make it as far the Premier himself; but its not the type of attention a sitting Premier normally desires.