McGuinty's Ontario Liberal "Slush Fund" for T.O. Immigra

[Canuck E Stan]

Immigration "Slush Fund" Under Fire

Most of the cash distributed from an alleged $20 million Liberal immigration “slush fund” ended up in the hands of community groups inside the Greater Toronto Area, an Osprey News review of the grants shows.

Just three of 31 grants (totaling $590,000) handed out to support immigrants and immigrant groups went to communities outside the Toronto and the GTA, according to ministry documents.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle defended the way the money was distributed geographically.

“I think the reason for that, if you look at the patterns of immigration settlement, the heavy concentration is obviously there (in the GTA),” he said.

“That’s where most of the services are, where most of the people are and that’s the reality of it.”

Colle’s fund has come under fire over recent days because of allegations the money was dispensed without a formal application process and went, in many cases, to groups headed by individuals with strong Liberal ties.

However, the principal complaint from both the Conservatives and NDP is that Colle appears to have distributed $20 million in an election year without any obvious criteria, application process or independent review to groups his government is either politically connected with or counting upon for support in the Oct. 10 election.

“The Minister himself said on Thursday that there were hundreds of groups that approached him for money,” Tory said.

There is a need for immigration settlement programs in communities across Ontario, ranging from Niagara to Sudbury and Barrie and Ottawa, where local groups are hard pressed to provide services, he said.

“The question again arises why these 31?” Tory said. “Why not any of the other groups?”

Hundred of groups approach the government for hand-out and all but 3 of the 31 groups who got it are from Toronto.The three exceptions bordered Toronto.

McGuinty's little world doesn't go beyond 905.

How do you expect immigrants to get out of Toronto and make a life in small town Ontario if you don't lend a hand to help them in these areas? And he wants Ontario to vote for him.....again. I hope not.

[Shakeyhands]

there is a huge number of immigrants in places like Sudbury, Bleinhem, hell even Coboconk! Thats where the lions share of this money needs to be handed out to support services!

[guyser]

there is a huge number of immigrants in places like Sudbury, Bleinhem, hell even Coboconk! Thats where the lions share of this money needs to be handed out to support services!

Come on, you know thats not true. Are there some? Sure are, but not many. The city has most of the immigrants here...and most of the money flows out, normally.

As for no process to fete these requests, very very wrong, and McGuinty will pay at the polls in October.The whole thing smells bad.

[guyser]

How do you expect immigrants to get out of Toronto and make a life in small town Ontario if you don't lend a hand to help them in these areas? And he wants Ontario to vote for him.....again. I hope not.

Immigrants dont want to move out to small town Ont. There are not the jobs, the contacts ,the support groups available.

When immigrants are established and working awhile , yes they may want to move, but not anyone fresh off the immigration line.

[Canuck E Stan]

Immigrants dont want to move out to small town Ont. There are not the jobs, the contacts ,the support groups available.

When immigrants are established and working awhile , yes they may want to move, but not anyone fresh off the immigration line.

How can there be jobs,contacts or support groups in small town Ontario when all the $$$ is given to groups in Toronto?

Immigrants right off the boat should be sent to small town Ontario where they have a better chance of making a life,getting a job,buying an affordable house.

McGuinty doesn't give that option with this kind of non-help to agencies in these small centres.

[Shakeyhands]

there is a huge number of immigrants in places like Sudbury, Bleinhem, hell even Coboconk! Thats where the lions share of this money needs to be handed out to support services!

Come on, you know thats not true. Are there some? Sure are, but not many. The city has most of the immigrants here...and most of the money flows out, normally.

As for no process to fete these requests, very very wrong, and McGuinty will pay at the polls in October.The whole thing smells bad.

I was being faciteous, if there is proof that normal routes for distributing money were bypassed, lets find out how and why this is happening. That money was distributed to where the immigrants actually are... well, that actually makes sense doesn't it.

The PC's will try to spin this in to something sinister, with all their might.

[Canuck E Stan]

The PC's will try to spin this in to something sinister, with all their might.

Globe&Mail

The government used its majority on Thursday to block an opposition motion to have the Auditor-General investigate the grants. The government instead passed its own motion asking each group that has received funds during the most recent fiscal year to report on the status of its grant within six months - some time after the election. The grants totalled $20.4-million in the fiscal year ending March 31, and $12-million during the previous year.

Mr. Prue said the government's motion was nothing more than an attempt to deflect attention from how the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration chose the groups that received the funds and whether it doled out money for political favouritism.

What's McGuinty afraid of, if it isn't sinster. Let the Auditor-General take a look.

[Leafless]

What's McGuinty afraid of, if it isn't sinster. Let the Auditor-General take a look.

What I would like to know is what is the total cost to Canadian taxpayers to support a multicultural Canada?

Adding another level of corrupt immigrant vote buying is certain to help our already dysfunctional political system.

[guyser]

Adding another level of corrupt immigrant vote buying is certain to help our already dysfunctional political system.

Trying to keep track here, who is the corrupt one? The immigrant or the vote buying politician?

[madmax]

Trying to keep track here, who is the corrupt one? The immigrant or the vote buying politician?

Does this have the possibility of turning into adscam. Is it correct that a group received $250,000 and this group is essentially 3 Liberals, no building, or any else of substance.

Will the Liberals get caught in another corruption scheme?