If recent reports are to be believed, the glamorous, booze-soaked life of an official diplomat can only be outshone by the glamorous life of an LCBO employee. Francois Agostini, along with the help of a part-time waitress, allegedly stole more than a million dollars from the LCBO—and he did it by exploiting a program he oversaw for the liquor board that provides booze to diplomats without tax or duty at a savings of up to 40 per cent (who knew?). Over the course of six years, Agostini allegedly conjured fake sales to fake diplomats. An LCBO affidavit says that “approximately $1.6 million worth of product was shipped to the Toronto warehouse…but the proceeds were not remitted.” That product, according to the board, was then sold out of the back of a truck in Stouffville. The LCBO says they’ve fired Agostini and made drastic changes to the diplomat program to prevent future scams. Meanwhile, we’re sure some booze-swilling attachés are more than a little sore at Agostini for blowing their cover. Read the entire story [Global] »
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I do not like the tone – it were not foreign diplomats but Canadians who abused the system and Canadians who drunk the alcohol in the end. LCBO made drastic changes to diplomat program – false target in this case – it should rather think about changing supervision of its own employees to prevent events like this. Moreover, same privileges are enjoyed by Canadian diplomats abroad, this is not anything special granted to foreign diplomats by Canada.
February 1, 2012 at 3:21 pm | by MichelleWhy did it take 6 years to figure this out?? The head of the LCBO should be fired,along with the auditors, they are after all the top dogs here making huge salaries and for what, this type of service!
February 2, 2012 at 9:37 am | by MondoDon’t blame the diplomats who purchase legally from the board, ours do the same in foreign countries!
It is not diplomats that are, or should be, impugned. It is the rep that was in charge of this program and his accomplice who was fraudulently representing herself as a diplomat. The LCBO is acting as quickly as it can and we can only hope that charges will be laid quickly and convictions will follow.
February 2, 2012 at 10:49 am | by MondialHowever, it is interesting that various media outlets have slight variations on the facts as to how the liquor was being sold at Mussleman’s Lake and for how long it was actually being sold from there or where the woman was from. No wonder people don’t know what is really going on.
The theft itself is nearly irrelevant. Why taxpayers are being bent over, footing the bill so diplomats can live high (no pun intended), and why/how this went on for 6 1/2 years while everyone at their head offices walked around clueless, should be the big questions.
The only reason anything changed is because the LCBO got busted! They are very good a placing themselves as the “do good er”. Changes so it won’t happen again. More like, “Ooops we were caught!”, so now we have to look good. Conveniently, zero mention of what exactly the changes were.
Do the quick math of 240+ employees at $100k+ per year (it varies from $100k per year upward including a few around $200k per year and the CEO at well over $410k per year + bonuses + benefits) http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/publications/salarydisclosure/2011/crown11.html, managers at approximately 680 stores province wide, conservatively earning only $60k per year (though many earn upward of 75k per year + bonuses + benefits), totals $65 million dollars in salaries before bonuses and benefits. Tack on around $6 million in bonuses (for only top executives not all bonuses) and you are over $70 million. That’s a conservative $70 million. For predominantly management positions. Say that number out loud several times. It’s probably closer to $100 million.
They are useless. Get rid of it. Government has proved time and again, they have no business being in business. Anyone with an iota of business savvy could build a dream team with $100 million.
February 5, 2012 at 12:40 pm | by James