Perth Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece says the Liberal government has made a “secret deal” with a consulting firm to manage a provincial ice storm relief fund, as municipalities continue to wait for financial relief.
Nearly 11 months after the 2013 ice storm, many municipalities remain “frozen out of provincial assistance,” states a press release from Pettapiece’s office.
Pettapiece raised the issue in the Legislature during question period on Nov. 20.
“How many thousands of dollars that should be going to municipalities for disaster relief is instead being spent on consulting fees?” he asked.
Pettapiece criticized the government for hiring LandLink Consulting, “so far with nothing to show for it.”
The Edmonton-based firm offers “immediate implementation of a disaster recovery program once the provincial government approves a program,” according to the company’s website.
Pettapiece panned the government for asking municipalities to take part in a two-hour webinar designed to teach them how to fill out their applications.
The press release says a government email states that the web sessions were hosted by LandLink – contradicting the municipal affair’s minister’s statement that “all [training sessions] … were done internally by ministry staff.”
“For some municipalities, this is now the third time they’re being asked to submit an application for assistance,” Pettapiece said after his question.
“This is red tape at its worst,” he stated.
In his response to Pettapiece, Municipal Affairs Minister Ted McMeekin said ministry staff are processing paper work related to the program “as quickly as they can and as the paperwork comes in we’re releasing that money.”
Video of the exchange shows McMeekin also pointed out that when the Conservatives were in power they spent $650 million on consultants in 2001 and 2002.
“In the last three years, our figure is under $300 million,” he said, adding “We’re working hard to curb the use of separate consultants.”
