Comment 91013

By Noted (anonymous) | Posted August 19, 2013 at 08:31:14

Bureaucrats at a provincial agency asking for billions to expand transit in the GTA had exclusive access to premium tickets to the Toronto International Film Festival and a Buffalo Bills game, the Toronto Sun has learned.

The sponsorship deals came to light because Metrolinx had trouble managing two agreements in 2011 that yielded premium tickets to the prestigious events.

The agreements forced an internal audit and policy overhaul of its own promotional program, according to documents obtained under provincial freedom of information legislation.

The reports show that $27,000 worth of NFL tickets, some of which were intended to raise money for charity, were sold to Metrolinx staff at a steeply discounted rate. The agency also forked over $30,000 of taxpayer cash to the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to sponsor the event and in exchange received a bevy of free tickets to red carpet events, film screenings and exclusive parties.

In early 2011, Metrolinx began to ramp up its so-called “promotional partnership” agreements as a way to “enhance brand recognition.” But by November the program was in trouble.

In a memo dated Nov. 28, 2011, director of strategic communications, Vasie Papadopoulos, defended the program to Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig.

“Partnerships can serve as a vehicle to showcase the value of Metrolinx and its operating division in the community,” she wrote. “And also to facilitate the extension of those brands in the non-commuter and leisure travel market by connecting customers to unique cultural exhibitions and events.”

But Papadopoulos went on to say that there was little oversight over the program, ticket use was inconsistently tracked and she acknowledged Metrolinx’s internal audit department was reviewing the program.

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/08/18/metrolinx-bureaucrats-score-premium-tickets

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