MPP McNaughton: Release the Complete List of Private Companies who have Received Government Subsidies and Grants
QUEEN’S PARK – This morning, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton continued his call for increased transparency and public accountability from the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure in relation to corporate subsidies and grants awarded from his Ministry.
“It’s shocking that the government continues to refuse to release the complete list of private companies who have received government subsidies and grants,” said McNaughton. “It’s time that the government clears the air on these grants and immediately comes clean to Ontario taxpayers. What are they hiding?”
McNaughton wrote to Minister of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure Hon. Brad Duguid on January 15th asking that he release all information related to the 374 separate projects that his Ministry had agreed to fund going back to 2004. On March 29th, McNaughton wrote a second letter to Minister Duguid again calling on him to release all information.
“We know that 80 per cent of the total government funding was made through non-advertised processes, in which only selected businesses were invited to apply. We also know that of the nearly $5 billion a year Ontario spends on various direct and indirect business subsidies and tax credits, 200 of the province’s oldest and largest companies are the biggest beneficiaries,” said McNaughton. “Ontario taxpayers deserve to know what their money is buying, and how many jobs are being created and maintained with these investments. Do these investments translate to a better economy and more jobs for Ontario residents?”
In addition to ongoing questions about the success of the government subsidies and grants, a number of corporations that donated to the Ontario Liberal Party were also awarded taxpayer money by the government leading to further questions about the government’s secretive invite-only process.
“Ontario’s Auditor General was crystal clear when she said, ‘The Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure has not attempted to measure whether the $1.4 billion it provided to Ontario businesses since 2004 actually strengthened the economy or made recipients more competitive,’” said McNaughton. “There is very little transparency in how this funding is awarded. Project results for these grants are never made public, and public information released by the government about these grants is often very misleading. It’s a complete mess.”
“That is why I continue to call on the Premier and the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure to come clean by releasing the complete list of private companies who have received government subsidies and grants. Ontario taxpayers deserve no less.”