"We had many serious questions about the independence of this audit from the start and the way it was being conducted. Today, our concerns have been confirmed as we learn of the relationship Michael Gourley had with the former Conservative government of Ontario," says Thistle. "Is it a coincidence that Mr. Gourley joined PriceWaterhouseCoopers the same day as the Request for Proposals for the audit was issued?"

A news story in the Toronto Star today (January 7, 2004) describes Gourly as " a close friend and key advisor to former Premier Ernie Eves," and said he "was paid almost $1 million by the Conservative Government in a secret deal last year."

The Toronto Star reported that Gourley, now working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, left his job as chief executive office of the Ontario Financing Authority Nov. 7, after a little more than 15 months into the job with $917,699 in salary and buy-out.

"The fact that the person doing this audit, that was being touted as independent, worked for a conservative government in Ontario that implemented some of the most severe cuts to social programs ever in this country compromises the whole process.

"It is also ironic that Mr. Gourley came to our province and stated the problems with our fiscal situation and that everyone had to make sacrifices to ensure improvement. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation states that Mr. Gourley’s payment from the Ontario government is exactly the reason that governments fall into debt and incur deficits in the first place.

"It is also hypocritical that this government would use this audit to scare the people of the province. We now clearly see that this audit was no more than a political charade for this government. The only truly independent review would have been the Auditor General."