LILLEY: Former OLG chair cleared by police, future uncertain
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Publishing date:Jun 03, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
Peter Deeb
Peter Deeb PHOTO BY HAMPTONSECURITIES.COM /Toronto Sun
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The former chair of the board at Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar lottery corporation has been cleared in the police investigation that multiple sources told the Sun caused him to step down from his position. Peter Deeb resigned his post on April 29 amid an investigation that has now wrapped up without charges.
“The Ontario Provincial Police has completed its investigation in this matter. No criminal offence was identified and as a result, no charges will be laid,” OPP spokesman Bill Dickson said.
What this means for his position with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation remains to be seen.
When the Sun first reported that multiple sources had said Deeb had stepped down due to a police investigation, his lawyer called such claims “highly misleading” and defamatory. Now, with the police investigation wrapped up, surrogates for Deeb are saying that the financial services entrepreneur will be reinstated as chair of OLG.
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That claim has yet to be confirmed by OLG or the Ford government which rescinded the order in council appointments that made him chair and established his payment of $146,000 a year for the part-time job.
Deeb was appointed to OLG’s board in May 2019 and elevated to chair in December 2019. His resume includes being president and CEO of Hampton Securities, an investment management firm. He has also served on the board of the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Mississauga and a member of the PC Ontario Fund, the fundraising arm of the governing PC Party.
Appearing before the committee on government agencies at the legislature in April 2019, Deeb denied that his appointment was in anyway a patronage appointment or connected to his party ties noting he had donated to the Liberals and Conservatives in the past.
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“I’m looking out for the best interests of the people of Ontario, my neighbours and my friends,” Deeb said.
A spokesperson for OLG said that they could not comment on the possibility that Deeb would be reappointed as chair saying that is a matter for the government. A spokesperson for the premier’s office said that they had no comment as there was an “ongoing investigation.”
That could be a review of Deeb by the AGCO either for the matter that the OPP just cleared him on or a review of his suitability to be reappointed to the board.
If Deeb is reappointed he will need to undergo vetting by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. In May, AGCO, which has its own investigative unit said they were not investigating Deeb due to a police investigation and any other considerations would be made at the conclusion of the investigation.
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On Wednesday, AGCO said that they are not reviewing any current or possible appointees at this moment.
Meaning Deeb’s future is up in the air and OLG continues to operate under an interim board chair.
OLG runs Ontario’s lottery system, oversees casinos and online gaming as well as the horse racing industry. In 2020 the organization handed over $2.3 billion in payments to the province making OLG one of the larger sources of non-tax revenue for the government.
Deeb was appointed chair shortly after reports in the Sun detailed lavish spending on renovations to the executive offices under the former CEO of the organization, Stephen Rigby.
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Rigby was running the gambling monopoly when he authorized extravagant office renovations, art rentals, and reports that staff felt alienated when he spent $22,000 to block off his office from others on the executive floor — including ensuring top staffers were denied use of a kitchen near his office staff.
Premier Ford ordered an audit of OLG that has been completed but never released to the public despite Ford’s promise to do so.
torontosun.com
Author of the article:Brian Lilley
Publishing date:Jun 03, 2021 • 3 hours ago • 3 minute read • Join the conversation
Peter Deeb
Peter Deeb PHOTO BY HAMPTONSECURITIES.COM /Toronto Sun
Article content
The former chair of the board at Ontario’s multi-billion-dollar lottery corporation has been cleared in the police investigation that multiple sources told the Sun caused him to step down from his position. Peter Deeb resigned his post on April 29 amid an investigation that has now wrapped up without charges.
“The Ontario Provincial Police has completed its investigation in this matter. No criminal offence was identified and as a result, no charges will be laid,” OPP spokesman Bill Dickson said.
What this means for his position with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation remains to be seen.
When the Sun first reported that multiple sources had said Deeb had stepped down due to a police investigation, his lawyer called such claims “highly misleading” and defamatory. Now, with the police investigation wrapped up, surrogates for Deeb are saying that the financial services entrepreneur will be reinstated as chair of OLG.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
That claim has yet to be confirmed by OLG or the Ford government which rescinded the order in council appointments that made him chair and established his payment of $146,000 a year for the part-time job.
Deeb was appointed to OLG’s board in May 2019 and elevated to chair in December 2019. His resume includes being president and CEO of Hampton Securities, an investment management firm. He has also served on the board of the Canadian Opera Company, Opera Mississauga and a member of the PC Ontario Fund, the fundraising arm of the governing PC Party.
Appearing before the committee on government agencies at the legislature in April 2019, Deeb denied that his appointment was in anyway a patronage appointment or connected to his party ties noting he had donated to the Liberals and Conservatives in the past.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
“I’m looking out for the best interests of the people of Ontario, my neighbours and my friends,” Deeb said.
A spokesperson for OLG said that they could not comment on the possibility that Deeb would be reappointed as chair saying that is a matter for the government. A spokesperson for the premier’s office said that they had no comment as there was an “ongoing investigation.”
That could be a review of Deeb by the AGCO either for the matter that the OPP just cleared him on or a review of his suitability to be reappointed to the board.
If Deeb is reappointed he will need to undergo vetting by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. In May, AGCO, which has its own investigative unit said they were not investigating Deeb due to a police investigation and any other considerations would be made at the conclusion of the investigation.
Advertisement
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Article content
On Wednesday, AGCO said that they are not reviewing any current or possible appointees at this moment.
Meaning Deeb’s future is up in the air and OLG continues to operate under an interim board chair.
OLG runs Ontario’s lottery system, oversees casinos and online gaming as well as the horse racing industry. In 2020 the organization handed over $2.3 billion in payments to the province making OLG one of the larger sources of non-tax revenue for the government.
Deeb was appointed chair shortly after reports in the Sun detailed lavish spending on renovations to the executive offices under the former CEO of the organization, Stephen Rigby.
OLG logo.
LILLEY: More mysterious departures at the top of OLG
Peter Deeb
LILLEY: OLG chair steps aside amid police probe
OLG CEO Stephen Rigby (torontosun.com)
LILLEY: OLG prez on his way out amid dropping profits, questions on expenses
Rigby was running the gambling monopoly when he authorized extravagant office renovations, art rentals, and reports that staff felt alienated when he spent $22,000 to block off his office from others on the executive floor — including ensuring top staffers were denied use of a kitchen near his office staff.
Premier Ford ordered an audit of OLG that has been completed but never released to the public despite Ford’s promise to do so.
LILLEY: Former OLG chair cleared by police, future uncertain
The former chair of the board at Ontario’s lottery corporation has been cleared in a police investigation.