May 26th, 2022
May 26th, 2022
SAULT STE. MARIE - Michele McCleave-Kennedy responded to Ross Romano’s refusal to acknowledge that taking more than $5,000 in Sault riding association money to pay for his Toronto parking spot is wrong. Romano told SooToday that he needs that parking space to do his job.
“Mr. Romano needs to acknowledge that taking $5,100 in local riding association money to pay for a parking spot in downtown Toronto is wrong. It is not part of the job. Sault families are paying the highest costs for gasoline, rent, hydro and food. They don’t get thousands of dollars of allowances to help pay their bills. Mr. Romano has clearly lost touch with the people of the Sault.
“Mr. Romano needs to do the right thing now, apologize for taking the money, and pay it back. New Democrats will fix what is broken, fight for better health care and a more affordable life in the North. We will immediately ban the practice that Conservative MPPs are using now to live more comfortably at the expense of local riding associations, using tax-deductible donations as their personal ATMs.”
Romano’s 2019 financial return lists $1,500 for the parking spot, and his 2020 return lists $3,600 for the parking spot, a total of $5,100. Those returns are attached.
New Democrats are calling on the Conservatives to pay back more than $125,000 in MPP allowances pocketed by eight Conservative MPPs. Liberal Steven Del Duca charged his MPP riding association account $50,000 in high-end steakhouses, bars and spas.
Background:
Romano:
"It's unfortunate Ms. McCleave-Kennedy doesn't seem to understand where the job is that she's applying for," he says. "But to be an MPP, you have to be willing to spend four days a week in Toronto, and I have parking in Toronto so that I can get to and from work."