Ontario’s finances to be under microscope

Ford denounces Liberal ‘scandal’

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford slammed his predecessor’s handling of Ontario’s books Monday, calling it the “biggest government scandal in a generation,” as he announced plans for a special committee that would dig further into the province’s fiscal situation.

Ford’s vow to hold the previous regime accountable came in a speech to caucus delivered days after his finance minister announced Ontario was dealing with a recently revised $15-billion deficit as a result of Liberal accounting practices.

“They do not just get to walk away from this,” said Ford, whose Progressive Conservatives won a majority this spring. “We will demand answers about where the money went.”

Critics said Ford’s move would likely set the stage for cuts to services and expressed skepticism about the committee’s work.

The premier, however, said the work of the “select committee” was much needed. The legislative body will have the power to call witnesses, compel documents and gather evidence for a final report expected in December, he said.

Ford provided the details as he stood beside Finance Minister Vic Fedeli, who on Friday said the Progressive Conservatives had chosen to adopt accounting practices used by the auditor general and had — through the work of an independent commission — found greater deficits under the Liberals than had been reported.

“Vic, you helped shine the spotlight on the biggest government scandal in a generation,” Ford said.

Ford took no questions on his plans for the committee, which are in addition to the independent commission and a line-by-line audit of government spending that’s expected to be finished in the coming weeks.

The premier instead repeatedly criticized his predecessor, Kathleen Wynne.

“We’re not going to let Kathleen Wynne and her cronies walk away from their $15-billion scandal because we can’t let anything like this ever happen again,” he said.