THE CORRUPTION SCANDAL, INVOLVING, JANET HOPE, ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER.
The Unanswered Questions, Surrounding The Actions Of The Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope, In The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
1. Her Personal Influence, In The Decisions, Concerning The Private Companies, Kehilla Residential Programme and Deloitte & Touche, Who Were The Only Contenders For The Bid, To Take Over The Moshav Noam Non-Profit Cooperative Housing Corporation. Providing Them With The Ministery's Approval, Despite Their Other Questionable Actions, That Also Goes Against The Public Interest.
2. Not Providing To The Public, Or To The Other Interested Parties, The Names, Of Who The Other So-Called Applicants Were, That Were Also Being Considered For The Same Bid, Regarding The Purchase.
3. The Personal Influence Of the Others Involved, In The Funding and Risk Management Branch, Of The Ministry. Keith Extance, The Director, Alison Coke, the Manager And David Stone, The Analyst, In Regards To This Specific Matter, And How This Is Also An Indication, Of How These Public Officials, Quietly Go About Disregarding The Law, To Serve Their Own Interest, Or The Interest, Of That Those They Are Also Involved With.
4. The Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope And Others, In The Funding And Risk Management Branch, Putting The Interests, Of Private Companies, Ahead Of The Public. The Illegal Aquisitions Of Those Companies And Other Procruements By Them, That Are Also Questionable And Also Against Public Interests.
The corruption scandal, that is now surfacing, concerning the Assistant
Deputy Minister, Janet Hope and her role, in allowing the transfer, of the
Moshav Noam Non-Profit Co-operative Housing Cooperation, over to Kehilla
Residential Programme, after it was brought to her attention, through the
complaints of the public, to also investigate Kehilla's actions, concerning
the property and its residents. The scandal also involved others, in the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, in the Funding and Risk
Management Branch, including the Director, Keith Extance and also the
Manager, Alison Coke, as well as the Analyst, David Stone. The Manager of
the City of Toronto Social Housing Unit, Funding and Risk Management
Branch, Maria Varlokostas, is also involved, and also its General Manager,
Phil Brown.
Upon the recommendations, of the City of Toronto, directly, through
the Toronto Social Housing Unit, Funding and Risk Management Branch, as
well as the Receiver, Deloitte & Touche, Kehilla Residential Programme,
seem to have been the only choice, for the transfer of the Coop, from
Deloitte & Touche, over to Kehilla Residential Programme. In fact the
claim that is also being made, against the Deputy Minister, Janet Hope and
the others, are that they have also put through the proposal, to have Kehilla
Residential Programme, take over the sale and transfer of the Moshav Noam
Non-Profit Cooperative Housing Corporation, exclusively and has also denied
this opportunity, to the other qualified applicants, thanks to the corruption
that was also involved, in their actions, to also make Kehilla, the exclusive
and only choice, for the project.
All of them were also directly involved, in the decision, to allow Kehilla Residential Programme, to purchase the assets, of the Coop and to also
take over the Moshav Noam Non-Profit Co-operative Housing Corporation, on
a permanent basis, from the current Receiver, Deloitte & Touche, who has
also recommended, Kehilla Residential Programme, exclusively, for this bid.
And who was also, along with the others, in the Funding and Risk Management
Branch, of both the Toronto Social Housing Unit, as well as the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing, has excluded all other qualified applicants,
who may have also been interested, in the purchase, to take over the Coop,
from the current holder, Deloitte & Touche, directly. All of this, also,
outside of the democratic process of the Coop, or its residents and also
outside of the boundaries of the law.
By this I also mean, that, there was also clear evidence, of a monopoly,
by those in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, to put forward the agenda,
of those private companies, before the interest of the public. And worst, that
they all had a pecuniary interest in the matter, to see that Kehilla Residential Programme, was also the sole contender, for this bid, and no one else. All
available evidence, seem to also point to this fact. There has also been no
other information, that has been made available, to either the members of the
Coop, or even to the court, to suggest, that, anyone else, were also being considered, by those in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, as a possible candidate for this bid, to take over the Coop. Except of course, Kehilla
Residential Programme, who has also been managing the property, on an interim
basis and who has been seeking, to also take over, on a permanent basis. Something that the residents of the Coop, do not want and has also voice their concerns, to those in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, of the Ministry, as well as to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope and which were ignored, by all of those involved, who has also quietly, went behind their backs and pushed through the agenda, of this private company, before that of the public.
As a formality, the residents were also requested, in January 2011, to provide information, about Kehillla's management of the Coop, during the interim.
They also responded negatively, in regards to Kehilla, and sent their response
back to the Ministry, detailing the concerns, that they also had about Kehilla,
including the open racism, that is also practiced by Kehilla's staff, to some
of the residents. All of this was also quietly ignored, by those persons
mentioned, in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, of the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs and Housing, including, also, the Assistant Deputy Minister,
Janet Hope, who also oversees that branch, of the Ministry and who is the also
direct boss of its director, Keith Extance and the others. She is also mandated
to put the interest of the public first, before that of any private company,
which also did not happened in this case. Keilla's illegal actions, regarding
the management of the Coop, was also diregarded, by them, in order for them,
to put through its agenda, to take over the Coop.
All of those persons who were involved, in the Funding and Risk Management Branches, of those government agencies, in excluding all of the other possible applicants, who might also have been interested, in the bid to transfer the Coop, over to another management. They have all consented, also, to Deloitte & Touche's hand picked choice, which was Kehilla Residential Programme, to take over from Deloitte & Touche, directly and no amount of requests, that has also been made, to them, or anyone else involved in this matter, has also been able to make them also provide, the information, directly, as to the other so-called applicants, for this purchase. It is a secret among themselves only and no one else. It would be interesting, also, for this information, to be provided to the public, because it will also show, that, from the very begining, they had all monopolized, the bidding process and that no one else, were also being considered by any of them, in regards to the transfer of the Moshav Noam Coop and that this action, was also agreed upon, by the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope and those other persons, who were also involved, directly, in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, of the Ministry. She also,
as a necessity, had to ignore the concerns from the public, about those companies actions, in order for her and those others mentioned, in the Funding and Risk Managemen Branch, of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to also provide them, with, the Ministry's consent, to go ahead with this deal.
I have been following this situation, closely and I can also say, that, based
on the evidence, that has been made available, both to me directly, as a member
of the Coop and also to the court, that those involved, also had a pecuniary interest, directly, in this project. This is also in regards to Kehilla
Residential Programme, as well as Deloitte & Touche. They also did not provide
any information, concerning the other so called applicants, who were also, supposedly, considered for this bid, in regards to the transfer of the Coop, based
on the fairness rule, and that Kehilla was their one and only choice
for this project.
There is much evidence available, to also suggest, that the Assistant Deputy
Minister, Janet Hope, also knew about the actions, of those involved, and in
fact, was also directly involved, in the decision, in putting forward the
agenda, of this private company, before the interest of the public. This
decision, on their part, has also landed those involved, in the Funding and
Risk Management Branch, of both government agencies, under investigation,
for violations under the Conflict of Interest Act. And there are also those,
like myself, who also believed, that, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet
Hope, should also be investigated, by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, for her role, as someone who holds office, in also ignoring the interests of the public, in this regard and also in putting forward the private interests, of those companies, Kehilla Residential Programme and also Deloitte & Touche, before that of the public. An action, which is also an open violation,
of the public trust in her office.
It was a decision, that was also made, exclusively, outside of the legal requirements, of the law, including those under the Conflict of Interest Act
and also the Municipal Act. That has now, also, implicated, the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope, in that decision, along with the others, for not complying, with those rules and regulations, under those Acts, concerning the sale, or purchase, of a property and to also participate, in a manner, that has also indicated, that there was a conflict of interest, on their part, to favour the current holder, Deloitte & Touche, as well as Kehilla Residential Programme, exclusively, to take over the bid, in regards to the transfer, of the Moshav
Noam Non-Profit Cooperative Housing Corporation, from them and over to
Kehilla Residential Programme. And while at the same time, also, clearly
excluding, all other qualified applicants, in the process. It is also a case,
where those city and government officials, has also used their positions,
to influence this decision. Which also, clearly, favoured Kehilla, over any
other qualified applicants, as well.
This latest development, regarding their actions, has also shed a light,
on how private companies, are also able to get through, with their agendas,
with those corrupt city and other government officials. In this case, the
claim, that was also made, against the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope
and also the others, in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, of the
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, along with the Toronto Social
Housing Unit, was also based on documented evidence. Evidence that is also
a part of the public record, concerning their actions. The corruption in
regards to their actions, also comes from the fact, that, they have decided
to take their public duties, so lightly and to also act upon their own
interests, outside of that duty, and also in regards to the public.
For instance, neither the Assistant Deputy Minister, nor those other
persons, in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, of the Ministry, acted
upon the complaints of the public, in regards to Kehilla's actions. David
Stone, is an analyst, in the Funding and Risk Management Branch of the
Ministry and both he and Alison Coke, were also in charge, of handling the complaints, about Kehilla Residential Programme, in regards to the Coop,
directly. They were also a part of the team, in the Funding and Risk
Management Branch, who were also considering, Kehilla's application, to
take over the transfer of the Moshav Noam Non-Profit Cooperative Housing
Corporation, from Deloitte & Touche and also over to Kehilla. Alison Coke,
manager in that branch, has also has confirmed to me, directly, that she has
also received the complaints, from the residents, of the Moshav Noam Non-Profit
Housing Coop, concerning Kehilla's actions, and that those complaints would
also be addressed by the Ministry, before any decision was made, on Kehilla's eligibilty, as a potential applicant for this bid. That also did not happened,
and we as the public has also come to know why. That Alison Coke and also the others
in the Funding and Risk Management Branch of the Ministry, has also never
deviated from their positions, to have kehilla Residential Programme, take over
the Coop, from Deloitte & Touche. It was what those companies wanted and also
what those other persons, including Alison Coke, David Stone, Keith Extance
and even the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope, in the Funding and Risk Management Branch also wanted. It was also not the public interest that they were
also adhering to, but thwir own and also that of those private companies.
One has only to look, further, into their actions, as well and at the information, that is also available, in regards to those actions, to see that they, also had a conflict of interest, with regards to this decision, on their part. And that the obvious conflict of interest, in regards to their actions, also stems from the
fact, that, they also wanted to promote those private companies interest, over
that of the public. In this case, also, it is both their own private interests,
as well as the interests of those two companies, Kehilla Residential Programme
and also Deloitte & Touche, that also takes presidence, with them, over those
of the public.
The Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope, also knew of the complaints, of the public, against Kehilla Residential Programme and has also chose to ignore it.
In fact, She was asked directly, to investigate those concerns, before the
Ministry, has also made its decisions, regarding kehilla's application, that the
Ministry was also considering, at the same time. She also chose not to do so, because, this would also pose, a direct conflict of interest, with her own private agenda, as well as the private agendas, those of the other two companies, at the center of this controversy, who were also looking to make this acquisition, for their own personal reasons and the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet Hope also
acquiescence, without giving any thought to what her public duties also requires her to do in this case. Which is also to put the needs of the public first, before those
of any private individual or entity.
The residents of the Moshav Noam Non-Profit Co-operative Housing Corporation,
has also not been told, officially, by those in the Funding and Risk Management Branch, of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, about their complaints, against Kehilla Residential Programme. Nor about how the Assistant Deputy Minister, Janet hope, has also decided, to deal with those complaints, in regards to Kehilla's actions, as well. They are usually, the last ones to know, if at all, about the very issues, that also concerns them, in regards to the actions, of these city and other government officials. Or that those involved, are also now go ng back, to the court, to have a further extension, given to them, to complete this purchase. A process which has also now taken, almost three years, from when it was started in 2008, and at the time when, Deloitte & Touche's term, as the Receiver, was also ended. And which they have also mandaged, to have extended, on an ongoing basis, to the cost of the taxpayers also. I also first became aware of Kehilla Residential Programme, as a possible candidate and also Deloitte's only choice to take over, from them, around January of 2008. Now, they are also going back to the court, to have this process, dragged on even longer, which is also no loss to them, financially. In fact, it is also the very opposite. They have all stand to gain, substantially, from this very long and costly process. Which, somehow, the City of Toronto, has also overlooked. This process, has also been financially, rewarding, for all of those involved and the Auditor General's office, has also shown an interest, to examine the financial records, of the Receiver, in regards, to the management of the Coop.
