Staples Gets Service Ontario, Taxpayers Get the Bill
Ford Conservatives left $1.5 million in costs out of the relocation of nine Service Ontario locations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2025
QUEEN'S PARK - Ontario Liberal Finance Critic Stephanie Bowman responded this morning to the recently released findings from the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) on the Ontario government’s controversial decision to relocate nine Service Ontario outlets to Staples locations.
The FAO’s report, initiated at the request of MPP Bowman, was tasked with evaluating the value for money from replacing nine Service Ontario offices with kiosks installed at Staples locations. The report reveals that the deal will cost $1.5 million more than the Ford Conservative government estimated.
“It has taken a report by an independent office to have any semblance of transparency about this deal. Now we know why,” said Bowman. “Doug Ford made another bad deal, and he didn’t want us to know about it. The report shows that the Ford Conservative government used numbers to create a story that wasn’t accurate. Why? To hide the fact that they made a bad deal that wastes taxpayers’ money.”
“This government has shown a complete disregard for transparency and accountability,” said Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie. “They bypassed a competitive bidding process, labelling it a ‘pilot project.’ They closed nine Service Ontario offices, operated by small business owners, and gave an exclusive and lucrative contract to a U.S.-owned corporation" added Crombie.
“Now the Premier wants to waste more taxpayer money by calling an unnecessary and expensive election so he can hide from other investigations into his government and try to cling to power for another four years,” said Bowman. “This is just another deal to make insider friends rich off the backs of Ontarians.”
Eric Osborne