FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 11, 2001
OPSEU calls for forensic audit of
Accenture contract
OPSEU President Leah Casselman today called
for an immediate forensic audit of government payments of nearly $200
million to the private company that designed the province's social
services system.
"Public services are a bargain
compared to what taxpayers have paid this one company," Casselman
said. "And what for? Our old system of direct people-to-people
contact was far superior to what we have to work with now."
Accenture, formerly know as Anderson
Consulting, was contracted in 1997 to overhaul the province's welfare
system and install a multi-million-dollar computer system for the Ontario
Disability Support Program. Public accounts reveal that payments to
Accenture have now exceeded the original $180 million contract, with no
end in sight.
"This company has been paid $193
million by the Ministry of Community and Social Services to create a
system that doesn't work for the clients, ministry staff or the taxpayers
of Ontario," Casselman said. "Call this the 'Walkertonization'
of the social services ministry."
Besides the lack of staff and consistent
personal contact, ministry offices have suffered repeated computer crashes
and difficulties in accessing relevant information. In some cases, this
has led to overpayments to clients and unreliable tracking of files, OPSEU
members say.
In his 1998 and 2000 reports, provincial
auditor Eric Peters questioned payments to Accenture and recommended the
contract be reviewed or terminated. The original contract was to be capped
at $180 million, but the ministry has paid more than $13 million above
that. John Baird, the Minister of Community and Social Services, also
ignored a recommendation of the Legislature's Public Accounts Committee to
withhold payments to Accenture.
"Clearly, Minister Baird has turned a
blind eye to what's happening in his ministry. A forensic accounting of
this contract is certainly in the public interest," Casselman said.
-30-
For further information:
Leah Casselman, President OPSEU: 416-443-8888 Ext. 300
Paul Bilodeau, OPSEU Communications: 416/443-8888 ext 780
