AHS official spent thousands on high-end restaurants

[smokedog]

Im shocked no one posted this story.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...es-merali.html

We need more transparency for officials using taxpayers money. I dont live in calgary, but i heard the mayor posts his expensive online. We need something similar, were ppl can view this stuff online

[codetrap]

This makes me sad, and somewhat angry that he'll probably walk away scott free.

[rage2]

mmm Ruth's Chris!

[Seth1968]

Originally posted by codetrap
This makes me sad, and somewhat angry that he'll probably walk away scott free.

Along with millions in severence pay.

[1barA4]

$2000 for a *car phone*?

Thank god they're cutting nursing hours and overtime, god forbid he didn't have an analog car phone that cannot connect to any modern network in his 500SL or skip a $1600 dinner.

[Disoblige]

After Merali left Capital Health in 2009, he made headlines in Ontario for claiming such items as a $1.39 muffin and a $1.59 pop while being paid $2,700 a day as a consultant to EHealth Ontario, the agency which is to implement the province’s electronic health records system by 2015.

Merali made dozens of similar claims while working for Capital Health, including tea and a muffin, and minor parking fees, despite being paid a salary of, at one point, $487,000 a year.

lol guy takes advantage of everything he can down to the nickels and dimes.

[schocker]

I still fail to understand the car phone. This was betwen 2005-2008. Mercedes still had that as an option then
Glad they canned him though, no need for waste like that. Would have been nice if done sooner though.

[littledan]

what is scary is listening to the AHS spokesperson discuss the matter. basically, if the foip request hadn't been made then he never would have been fired. they are firing him only to "maintain the public's trust" in AHS. not because they think what he did was wrong but only because they knew a shitstorm is coming. sounds like zero accountability over there. ridiculars.

[7thgenvic]

He deserves to have a few muffins thrown at him... Lucky SOB... I really need to get myself a cushy government job...

[1barA4]

Originally posted by 7thgenvic
He deserves to have a few muffins thrown at him... Lucky SOB... I really need to get myself a cushy government job...

At least for the pension! Even if you didn't expense frivolously, you'd have that golden parachute protecting your twilight years.

[HyperZell]

Found a picture of him:

[hampstor]

Originally posted by littledan
what is scary is listening to the AHS spokesperson discuss the matter. basically, if the foip request hadn't been made then he never would have been fired. they are firing him only to "maintain the public's trust" in AHS. not because they think what he did was wrong but only because they knew a shitstorm is coming. sounds like zero accountability over there. ridiculars.

That's what I was thinking too. Like hamplanet, only sorry that because someone busted them. There is accountability only after they've been busted.

I'm always surprised that people like this are contracted for such key positions. He must've been highly recommended by someone in order to get the CFO gig - maybe we should be looking at that because I can't imagine any other reason why they'd bring someone like that in.

[FraserB]

The only issue is with the expenses that were not legit.

Who cares if someone makes $10 million a year and expenses a $1 muffin? If it is an allowable and legit expense, go nuts.

[hampstor]

Originally posted by FraserB
The only issue is with the expenses that were not legit.

Who cares if someone makes $10 million a year and expenses a $1 muffin? If it is an allowable and legit expense, go nuts.

Bad optics for someone with this history to be the CFO of a public organization that is supposedly cash strapped. They're already under the microscope for many different things and don't need any more negative publicity.

Other healthcare officials have been turfed for less ("I'm eating my cookie")

[Disoblige]

Originally posted by FraserB

Who cares if someone makes $10 million a year and expenses a $1 muffin? If it is an allowable and legit expense, go nuts.

Yeah, but what kind of tool does that?

[Cos]

.

[codetrap]

I honestly think that they should audit every single expense of his, and he should pay back EVERYTHING that was not directly attributable to work.

[msommers]

Originally posted by Disoblige

Yeah, but what kind of tool does that?

You'd be surprised how cheap wealthy people can be but then again, if I was a millionaire and could write-off a $1 donut, I would. Why wouldn't you?

[ZenOps]

Baller? Really though its no different than paying Rob Anders to insult black, brown, yellow, red and other white people - and then to fall asleep.

Ron Jeremy gets paid millions to have sex with pornstars.

Olympic atheletes who come in third get $1.60 worth of bronze and a handshake.

[rage2]

Originally posted by ZenOps
Olympic atheletes who come in third get $1.60 worth of bronze and a handshake.

They also get $10k ($25k for gold, $15k for silver). Get your facts right!

http://www.kwch.com/news/kwch-lfs-ol...,1559132.story