CASE CLOSED.
A seven-month investigation by the OPP’s anti-rackets branch into renovation contracts associated with the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre expansion (pictured here) has determined that no criminal offences were committed, police said on Thursday, Dec. 1.
File photo by Allyson Snelling
‘We have been confident in the knowledge that the allegations ... were inaccurate and untrue, and from the outset cooperated fully with the investigation...’ — Andrew Dalton
GRAVENHURST - The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has concluded a seven-month investigation into renovation contracts associated with the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre expansion and determined that no criminal offences were committed, police said Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with the Weekender, Insp. Dave Ross of the OPP’s corporate communications said no criminal charges will be laid based on the outcome of the anti-rackets branch investigation.
“The investigation did not find any evidence to support any criminal offences being committed so the matter has been closed,” said Ross.
Ross said he could not provide any additional information.
“When investigations conclude in this manner, there’s no other information that can be made publicly available by us,” he said.
He did say, however, that these types of investigations are fairly involved and “document heavy,” with police reviewing documentary evidence and interviewing people.
The provincial government requested the police investigation in the spring following kickback allegations made in a Toronto Star article in April.
The front-page, investigative article alleged The Dalton Company, project/construction manager of the Gravenhurst Centennial Centre and Aquatic Facility project, siphoned almost $1.8 million of taxpayers’ money by taking advantage of weak controls in the Conservative government’s economic stimulus program, which earmarked $12.2 million for the project.
The Star article alleged that Dalton overcharged on contracts issued for the centennial centre work through inflated and fictitious charges and by claiming illegitimate taxes.
In response, the Dalton Company commenced legal proceedings against the Toronto Star, and in a press release called the Star’s claims “inaccurate and untrue.”
Contacted Thursday, representatives of The Dalton Company said they were pleased to learn the OPP has found no wrongdoing by their company with respect to its work on the project.
“We have been confident in the knowledge that the allegations made in articles in The Toronto Star were inaccurate and untrue, and from the outset cooperated fully with the investigation, as well as the Town’s own independent review, which concluded that Dalton has provided good value to the Town and its residents in delivering this project,” Andrew Dalton said in an email.
Mayor Paisley Donaldson said she would not comment until she receives a report from the town’s chief administrative officer.
Joe Hall, managing editor for the Toronto Star, indicated he would not comment until the newspaper learns more about the investigation from the OPP.
Joe Hall, managing editor for the Toronto Star, indicated he would not comment until the newspaper learns more about the investigation from the OPP.
There was also no word by press time whether the project funding, which was put on hold when the controversy began, will start flowing again to the municipality.
By the end of August, the town had financed over $4.9 million in costs through temporary borrowing. The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev) would have been responsible for about $3,278,000 of that amount.
See next week’s Gravenhurst Banner for more coverage on this story.