Ontario Lottery Board Example Shames Quebec

This week chairman Michael Gough and the entire board of directors of the Ontario's Lottery Gaming Board were asked to resign in the wake of some disturbing expense claims.

Provincial Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced that CEO Kelly McDougald was "dismissed with cause," and therefore will not receive a severance package.

"Over the last two years, senior staff at the OLG billed taxpayers for, among other things: expensive bottles of wine, a Weight Watchers membership, babysitters, luggage replacement, credit card fees, and a cloth grocery bag, according to documents released by the province of Ontario." Ottawa Citizen

"Today we are taking another step to protect taxpayer's money. New leadership at the OLG will work under a mandate to instill increased accountability and a culture of respect for the public interest and taxpayer dollars." – Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance

Wow could this ever happen in Quebec? Never!

"Dismissed with cause" is a foreign concept in Quebec government circles. When civil servants are caught abusing the public purse, they are quietly reprimanded or outright excused as in the case of Hydro-Quebec's Thierry Vandal.

Remember Jean-Guy Chaput the Quebec boss of SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles) who's lavish expenses led to him being relieved of his position.
When told that because of his unacceptable spending spree, his services were no longer required, he threatened to sue.
In order to end the bad publicity and the embarrassment as soon as possible, the government decided to pay out his contract, which cost taxpayers a further $100,000.

In Quebec it's always better to sweep these things under the rug.
Everybody agrees.
Nobody cares.