Auditor General must fast-track eHealth investigation

TORONTO – Reports of outrageous fees spent on consultants at eHealth demand a quick and forceful investigation from the Auditor General and clear answers from the Premier, OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas said today.

“At a time when health care services are being cut across Ontario and thousands of workers face layoffs because of huge operating deficits at hospitals, it boggles the mind that this provincial agency is spending millions of public dollars on consultants who are paid to read the New York Times and who bill the taxpayer for their personal consumption of pop-and-donuts,” said Thomas.

“Under these circumstances I would call on the Auditor General to fast-track his investigation of eHealth and move up his report on the agency which is scheduled to be released in December.”

Thomas was commenting on media reports that $4.8 million in contracts were signed off by eHealth’s president and CEO Sarah Kramer during the first four months of the newly-formed agency’s operation. The reports also revealed that consultant contracts were let without procurement documents, “because none were created.”

Some of the most egregious spending at eHealth under Kramer’s watch included: • Almost $5 million in untendered contracts which violated provincial guidelines • $51,000 in new office furnishings • $800 limousine rides for the president • travel and per diem costs for Alberta-based consultants to commute to Toronto • fees for reading the New York Times, and for conducting a debriefing on the TTC

“This sort of wild spending would be hard to defend in good economic times, but to see this sort of waste during an economic crisis is scandalous, especially with the cutbacks we’re witnessing in the health care sector,” said Thomas.

“We trust Premier McGuinty and his health minister will bring out the brooms and clean up this mess once the dust settles. They have plenty to explain.”

He said the latest crisis to hit eHealth undermines the important task of bringing health records into the 21st century and that task will be compromised by the reckless spending habits displayed by senior management.