Ontario premier's wife linked to behavioural therapy agency

ONTARIO PREMIER KATHLEEN WYNNE WITH HER PARTNER JANE ROUNTHWAITE

TORONTO -- While hundreds of kids like Mitchell Ward languished on Kinark's lengthy waiting list for intense behavioural therapy, the premier's wife cashed in with a juicy seven-year contract to transform the agency, QMI Agency has learned.

Jane Rounthwaite -- Premier Kathleen Wynne's partner of 25 years -- not only served for nearly two years -- during 2010 and 2011 -- as the interim director of program Services for the agency.

The Osborne Group principal was also a consultant for Kinark from 2004 to 2009.

Prior to 2013 -- when Wynne became premier -- Rounthwaite owned 50% of the agency that includes among its consultants many former staffers of various Ontario ministries, as well as Kinark itself. She now owns a 40% share.

How much she made during those seven years -- while the McGuinty government fought a move in court to extend intensive therapy for autistic kids beyond age six -- is unknown. Whether her contract was subject to a tender process is also unknown.

Both the premier's office and Kinark could not provide that information prior to deadline, despite repeated requests to do so.

A review of Kinark's condensed statements of operations during that period yielded no information. Nor did finance ministry disclosure documents.  (more...)

Ontario premier's wife linked to behavioural therapy agency

Ontario autistic kids not getting needed help