Oxford's MPP Ernie Hardeman's bill gets second reading
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A bill that could shut down a mandatory requirement for affordable housing providers to purchase gas and insurance through the scandal-ridden Housing Service Corporation is one step closer to becoming a reality.
On Thursday, Oxford’s MPP and the Progressive Conservative critic for municipal affairs and housing Ernie Hardeman's private members bill passed second reading at Queen’s Park.
“How could they vote against transparency?” Hardeman asked Friday. “That’s all the bill does is direct more transparency to the corporation.”
Hardeman has accused the non-profit Housing Services Corporation(HSC) of having many similarities to the beleaguered air ambulance service, such as creating for-profit subsidiaries, expensing international travel and salaries disappearing off the sunshine list.
The goal of the organization when it was created in 2000 under the Social Housing Reform Act, was to save affordable housing providers money by negotiating bulk discounts of gas and insurance.
Hardeman said he introduced the bill after discovering “questionable spending” at the organization, including the CEO spending $82,000 on travels including trips to Los Angeles, Australia, Santa Barbara, Newfoundland and 10 trips to England.
Hardman said questions have also been raised about other deals including a million dollar loan to a solar panel company, most of which was written off. There was also an investment in HS 497 Ltd, a company that only existed on paper and whose official address is a lawyer’s office in England.
On Friday Hardeman said he was pleased that “even more than getting the bill passed, we got the signal that the government recognizes things need to happen there.”
“So even if it doesn’t come back for a third reading, hopefully they will make the changes needed,” he said.
Hardeman’s bill, entitled the Housing Services Corporation Accountability Act, is designed to remove the mandatory requirement to purchase gas and insurance through HSC. It will also require HSC to once again report salaries over $100,000 to the Sunshine List and give the province’s auditor general the authority to audit the organization without a minister’s request.
Hardeman’s bill has now been referred to the legislative committee on social policy, where it will be reviewed before it comes back for a third reading.