12/12/2012
Ontario auditor general Jim McCarter released his 2012 annual report Tuesday, and it took aim at several areas of spending across the Ontario Government, including Metrolinx -- the transportation planning agency – which found itself in the crosshairs.
The report says Metrolinx has let spending balloon with its Presto system, suggesting that it will be among the most expensive fare-card systems in the world at more than $700 million in development fees. Still with transportation, the report points out the Drive Clean program for cars and light trucks does little to help reduce vehicle emissions.
McCarter suggests that Ontario is missing out on a serious amount of unpaid taxes as well, as the province plans to write off $1.4 billion of $2.4 billion in unpaid taxes, almost all of it from businesses.
The Ontario Provincial Police were also targets, as the report revealed overtime cost for OPP officers jumped 60 per cent since 2004 to $53 million in 2011/12.
McCarter also announced this will be his final audit, as he plans to retire.
|