The gas plant scandal
Re: To jail, but first comes release, Christie Blatchford, April 12
I must admit feeling somewhat conflicted regarding Ms. Blatchford’s column regarding the gas plant sentencing. While the judge’s appraisal is undoubtedly correct and Mr. Livingston deserves incarceration for his role, the criminal activity only happened because Ontario Public Service leadership was weak and the enforcement of proper information technology (IT) standards, such as proper records retention, was obviously lacking.
For example, would any competent IT organization, serious about electronic record keeping, grant “sweeping administrative access” to an outside employee known not to be IT savvy? Why did this blatantly preposterous request not raise concerns within the OPS when it was processed? When Mr. Livingston poohpoohed the given warnings, why was the access not immediately revoked? No other organization would have permitted such shenanigans. While the article refers to the former Secretary of Cabinet as being “tricked,” only a schlemiel could be taken advantage of in such fashion. The lack of proper oversight by the OPS gives it a black eye.
While Mr. Livingston bears chief responsibility and was sentenced for the deletions, the role others played should not be overlooked. There are lessons to be learned within the public service. John Winegarden, Scarborough, Ont.
The four-month jail sentence (not nearly enough) given David Livingston by the courts is the final nail that was driven into the Ontario Liberals’ coffin this past week. Orchestrating the wiping of hard drives regarding the infamous gas plant cancellations will stick with the voting folks right up until election time. June will be another pronouncement, the sentencing of the Wynne government to the political wilderness. Stephen Flanagan, Ottawa
David Livingston should go to jail, not because of the crimes the poor sap may have committed in trying to cover up the misdeeds of his erstwhile boss but to ensure that Dalton McGuinty doesn’t sleep well at night. McGuinty must be fully aware that it’s him who ought to be in prison for wasting a billion dollars of taxpayers’ money. The fact that there is not a peep out of the mouth of the former premier in defence of Mr. Livingston speaks volumes about McGuinty’s character. Tamas Somogyi, Thornhill, Ont.