GLOVER: Ford was warned before signing sweetheart Therme deal

QUEEN’S PARK — Ontario NDP MPP Chris Glover (Spadina—Fort York) is sounding the alarm about Doug Ford’s sweetheart deal with Therme.

Documents from Public Accounts highlighted by the Official Opposition revealed that an advisor urged the Conservatives to “dig deeper” into the company, less than two weeks before the Ontario Place lease was agreed to.

“The Conservatives were warned that Therme had low liquidity, low equity value, and its financial strength appeared weak before Ford signed the deal that gives them a 95-year lease on public parkland,” said Glover. “In Doug Ford’s Ontario, this is not an April Fool's joke. It’s just business as usual.

“Why is the Premier so eager to hand our public lands — and $2.2 billion taxpayer dollars — to a foreign-owned company that lied about owning six spas in Europe when they owned just one? The same company that claimed equity money from a German spa that has yet to be built. Why should we trust them?

“No Ontarian agreed to give Therme a donation of $400 per household. Ford needs to cancel this shady deal, and start investing in the services that every Ontarian needs.”