This morning the Toronto Star published an investigative article on the Toronto Port Authority stating that Lisa Raitt, now a federal Conservative cabinet member, and formerly the president and CEO of the TPA, signed off on her own expenses.  The article can be found at this address.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/721434--raitt-accused-of-expense-abuse?bn=1

The Star article details the latest in a series of controversies that have plagued the federal government agency since its inception in 1999.  These are the highlights.

• Lisa Raitt signed off on her own expenses for a trip to London, England.  The trip was not pre-approved by the board.  This was questioned by other members of the board but never satisfactorily answered.
• $50,000 was spent at the Harbour Sixty Steakhouse in the port authority building, including a lunch for 50 people costing $9,000.
• These expenses cover the eight months of 2008.  Raitt took a leave of absence to run as a Conservative in Halton Riding on September 9 of that year.
• Michele McCarthy, a former chair of the TPA Board, insists "The CEO's expenses are required to be submitted to and approved by the Chair of the Board...  No Harbour Sixty was ever in that budget.  They just used it."
• Four TPA Directors wrote the Auditor General, Sheila Fraser and the Minister of Transport, John Baird, over alleged irregularities.  Fraser replied that she had no authority over the TPA.  Baird ignored their letter.

 The Toronto Star promises that there will be more articles about the controversial agency Friday and Saturday.