From the very beginning, this case has had a potential mega-billion $ fall-out. In 1993, Ontario Hydro was a major mess with $30+ billion debt; demand was dropping while Management wanted to build several more nuclear reactors; electricity prices were rising; the nuclear program was slumping; Ontario residents were grumbling. Fortunately, the Rae government hired Maurice Strong as Chairman, who forced much-needed major surgery on Ontario Hydro.
At this uncomfortable time, Ontario Hydro did not need the bad publicity of a Manager being charged with criminal fraud. The V-P initially involved (Dane MacCarthy) had a reputation as "honest and trustworthy" (sic!); the new President, Al Kupcis, was my ex-boss; and Maurice Strong was an internationally known big-wig.
POTENTIAL FALLOUT At The Start
Going for a polite, democratic, discrete, internal solution seemed like a far better idea than going for the jugular, and calling the Fraud Squad. This is a very "Canadian" solution. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
THE CASE Why Did The Strategy Go Wrong?
Once dismissed, my union (The Society) had a monopoly on my Wrongful Dismissal case. Unfortunately, they chose to pick Management’s position, i.e. that the case has no merit, or that the Arthur Anderson report is valid while Arthur Anderson indicates that it is not. Thus The Society was not prepared to take the case to arbitration, which will be expensive. A Web site solves the problem, maybe …
After a dozen attempts at resolving the case, involving Ontario Hydro Management, Chairmen of the Board of Directors, the Fraud Squad and the media, apparently nobody wants to tackle this case. Maybe the fallout is too high. However, it is my firm belief that Managers should not scam the Corporation and general public, so the case is now public, even though I personally think that it should have been resolved discretely backstage, and tried hard to arrange it.