Some Ontarians are outraged after learning that Walmart Canada will reportedly be the second retailer to host ServiceOntario centres that are slated to close, and that taxpayer funds will be behind the bill.
Last week, the Ontario government confirmed it is shutting down at least 11 ServiceOntario locations across the province and will open new centres at select Staples Canada locations in early 2024.
“ServiceOntario is moving forward with ways to improve customers experience, streamlining operations, and ensuring a sustainable and cost-effective way to meet the needs of Ontario communities,” Press Secretary for the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery, Doug Allingham, said in a statement to Now Toronto last week.
CityNews reported that the Ford government agreed to a sole-sourced deal that includes offering an undisclosed amount of taxpayer dollars to Staples for the retrofit.
And now, it has been revealed that the government will be offering the same to U.S.-owned supply stores such as Walmart, however details of the amounts remain unclear, according to CityNews.
The news outlet claims the two ServiceOntario locations moving into Walmart are in London South and Keswick.
Unlike the Staples deal, which will see the company fully own and operate the ServiceOntario locations, Walmart’s existing private owners will be operating the centres, not the retailer itself.
Now Toronto reached out to the Ford government for a statement but did not receive one in time of publication.
Online, some Ontarians are fuming at the thought of their taxpayer money being used to fund U.S.-owned big box businesses, instead of investing it towards struggling sectors in the province, such as healthcare or education.
REACTION FROM OPPOSITION PARTIES
In response to the news, Leader of the NDP Marit Stiles says Ford has a responsibility to come clean about this deal to the public if taxpayer money is being used.
“…What kind of secret backroom deals have been made again for the government to give sole-sourced contracts, without any competition or transparency, to two giant American corporations?” she said in a statement to Now Toronto.
“While the Conservatives hand over taxpayer money to these companies to deliver government services, Staples and Walmart get to benefit from more sales and profits from Ontarians waiting in line for their health cards or licenses. This is not how you run a province,” she continued.
In addition, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party Bonnie Crombie released a statement accusing Ford of “catering to wealthy Conservative insiders instead of protecting the services Ontarians rely on.”
“These sole-source contracts are just another example of the desperate and shady practices taken by this scandal-plagued government, all in an attempt to change the channel away from their failures in healthcare and housing affordability. The Premier needs to come clean and explain to Ontarians why they are footing the bill to retrofit multi-billion-dollar American businesses,” she said.
