NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow and her colleagues pushed for scrutinizing a growing list of Conservative plum job appointments. But the Conservative majority on the Transport Committee denied any questioning of their insider friends, undermining the committee’s vetting role.

In another round of patronage appointments, the Conservatives give away more lucrative government positions to failed MPs and Tory insiders. From Prince Rupert over Thunder Bay to Quebec City, Conservatives are rewarded with plum jobs.

Conservatives excel at rewarding friends and insiders through lucrative appointments. From Toronto over Oshawa to Québec City – the shady pattern is the same.

Slashing rail, air and marine transport safety programs are irresponsible, NDP Transport Critic Olivia Chow warned. Together with Deputy Critic Jamie Nicholls she denounced the cuts that ignore traveller concerns and expert demands for improved safety.

Are you close to your local Conservative MP and donated steadily in the past years? Then you could get a special Valentine’s Day card this year. Like an invitation to head a newly-created Port Authority. Or be appointed to an Ag Canada council. Or get $25 million dollars in taxpayers’ money to build an ethanol plan.

Despite frequent noise and pollution complaints from waterfront residents, the Toronto Port Authority (TPA) is pushing ahead with plans to expand the Island Airport. The Toronto Port Authority wants to link Toronto to the island airport by constructing a tunnel under a portion of Lake Ontario. Such a tunnel would enable the airport to increase [...]

Continuing her pursuit for transparency at the Toronto Port Authority, MP Olivia Chow submitted the following written questions to the House of Commons: Ms. Chow (Trinity—Spadina) — How much has the Toronto Port Authority spent, on a yearly basis, at the Harbour Sixty Steakhouse, broken down by (i) board members, staff and chief executive officer, [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 27, 2009 OTTAWA – Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt must step aside from her cabinet position while she is under investigation by the Ethics Commissioner, just as Stephen Harper called on previous Liberal ministers to do, says New Democrat MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina).

November 5, 2009   Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, NDP):       Mr. Speaker, two months ago, I asked the Minister of Transport to release all expenses incurred by the Minister of Natural Resources when she was the CEO of the Toronto Port Authority. Some $81,000 of her expenses were released, but there was no mention of [...]

October 1, 2009   Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina, NDP):       Mr. Speaker, a fundraiser for the natural resources minister was organized from the president’s office of the Toronto Port Authority, and the minister’s former executive assistant sent out invitations and collected the names, all on the taxpayer’s dime.

OCTOBER 1, 2009 OTTAWA – New Democrat Olivia Chow has sent a letter to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner to request an investigation into a potential Ministerial breach of ethics into a political fundraiser being advertised by the Toronto Port Authority, a Crown corporation. A fundraiser for Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt was [...]

Steptember 14, 2009  Ms. Olivia Chow:       With respect to the Toronto Port Authority (TPA), will the government: (a) conduct an internal and external audit, as requested in a letter to the Minister of Transport outlined by four directors of the TPA, on the management of the Port Authority by the former Chief Executive Officer [...]

Latest patronage appointments to Toronto Port Authority are unacceptable TORONTO – Toronto New Democrat MP Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) condemns the latest appointments to the Toronto Port Authority. “John Baird threw out Henley and Reid, two perfectly capable directors who dared to ask tough questions,” said Chow. “The Federal Conservatives are clearly afraid of good governance [...]

…Controversy over spending $50,000 at a posh steakhouse and $80,000 in travel and hospitality for a top bureaucrat have prompted calls for an audit of the Toronto Port Authority. Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow and Brian Iler, a representative from a citizen’s group, publicly asked Auditor General Sheila Fraser to investigate the federal agency, which [...]

…A leaked letter from four board members of the Toronto Port Authority raises questions about lavish spending, including $50,000 at an upscale steak house, and concerns that governance rules are not being followed. It also reveals the depths of a nasty split in the board of directors – appointed by the city, province and federal [...]