The Ontario government announced the closure of 11 ServiceOntario centres and their plan to replace them with kiosks in Staples stores across Canada.
Todd McCarthy, minister of public and business service delivery, said in a news release that ServiceOntario partnerships with large corporations are essential to supporting the province.
“That is why we are partnering with Staples Canada, an experienced retailer with a strong presence in Ontario, to help provide services where people already live, work and shop,” he said.
David Boone, CEO of Staples Canada, said the partnership will work to serve customers and employees.
“Our partnership with ServiceOntario will make it easier and more convenient for communities to access the government services they need,” Boone said.
The Opposition has been vocal in its displeasure concerning the policy enactments and has asked for more transparency in the deals being made by Queen’s Park.
Bonnie Crombie, leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, said in her party’s statement that these sole-source contracts are just another example of the desperate and shady practices taken by this “scandal-plagued” government.
“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.
Ontario Green Party Leader and MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner said he was disappointed in the lack of transparency when concerning the partnership.
“If this deal was truly made in the public interest, what is there to hide,” he said. “That’s exactly why I asked the Auditor General to conduct a value-for-money audit into these suspicious location swaps.”
Neither the government nor the Opposition have replied to requests for comment, and ServiceOntario employees say they have been asked not to speak with the media.
In addition to the deal made with the retailers, a government statement said they are partnering with the Township of Pickle Lake, about 350 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont., and North Shore Tribal Council, along the north shore of Lake Huron within the Robinson-Huron Treaty area, to increase services.
The statement said new centres will offer live virtual appointments for those unable to attend ServiceOntario in person.
ServiceOntario will assist work permit holders and their families with their health cards by increasing service to eight centres in the Greater Toronto Area.