TORONTO — The Ontario government is putting several large public agencies under the microscope, launching reviews that will look at efficiency and productivity. The announcement Wednesday from Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy comes as government spending has been under increased scrutiny recently, due to Toronto-area Progressive Conservative caucus members billing thousands in Toronto hotel stays. Premier Doug Ford has said he told them to pay back “every single penny,” but Bethlenfalvy could not say if that has happened. Bethlenfalvy said the province is reviewing eight agencies starting this summer with an eye to ensuring their spending is sustainable. “We are doing this work to ensure the front-line services that they deliver and that the people rely on every day are protected,” he said at a press conference. “Provincial agencies are essential partners to us in our plan to protect Ontario, and that is why our government is ensuring that operations remain sustainable.” The agencies being reviewed are: Metrolinx, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, Supply Ontario, Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation, Legal Aid Ontario, Agricorp, and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Metrolinx in particular should have more oversight, with more than 120 vice-presidents. However, she said she is skeptical about the timing of the announcement, coming as the government faces questions about expenses. “If this is simply an excuse for the government to distract from their own scandals, let me tell you this: if you want to find efficiencies, you want to save taxpayers a few dollars, start by not taking the dollars out of their pocket and spending it on things like private jets and luxury hotel suites,” she said. Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser also tied the announcement to the now-reversed purchase of a $29-million jet for Premier Doug Ford’s use and said the timing is suspect. “On the eve of three byelections, the government wants to look fiscally responsible,” he wrote in a statement. “They’re not.” Bethlenfalvy suggested the government has given the agencies some figures of savings it would like to see, but he did not share those publicly. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 5, 2026. Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
