Angry in the Great White North

A press release from the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party:

For Immediate Release
October 19, 2006

MCGUINTY LIBERALS CAUGHT RED-HANDED

Premier's Office and Ministry staff use taxpayer-funded offices for Liberal leadership

(Queen's Park) - Progressive Conservative Party Leader John Tory today called for Dalton McGuinty to explain why members of his staff and ministers' staffs are using Ontario taxpayer-funded offices for the federal Liberal leadership campaign.

"This is a serious issue - it strikes at the heart of trust in government and respect for the taxpayers money," said Tory. "This is just like the taxpayer financed propaganda campaigns the McGuinty Liberals have on the airwaves right now."

The Liberal Party of Canada published a list of returning officers for their delegate selection on their website (which was taken down shortly after Tory raised it during Question Period). Several McGuinty Liberal staff are listed with their government email addresses and phone numbers. In the Legislature today, Tory pointed to several staff members on the list:

• Aaron Lazarus, Director, Issues Management and Legislative Affairs, Premier's Office
• Barbara Joy, Assistant Director, Issues Management and Legislative Affairs, Premier's Office
• Utilia Amaral, Senior Advisor, Municipal Affairs and Housing.
• Elizabeth Hall, Senior Policy Advisor to Attorney General
• Jason Murray, Policy Assistant to the Attorney General

Dalton McGuinty recently said that his members and staffers were expected to not "compromise [their] higher obligations to both [their] constituents and to [the government]."

"Dalton McGuinty owes the taxpayers of Ontario a full explanation for what his staff members are doing," said Tory. "If this is the example of character Dalton McGuinty wants to set for the people of Ontario then Heaven help us all."

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For more information:
Brendan Howe
(416) 325-0412

OK, one more time. Slowly and clearly so every Liberal understands. Tax money is not the private piggy bank for Liberals and their supporters.

To...alll...Liberals!...Tax...money...is...not...yours...to...spend...as...you...wish!