VANCOUVER: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) reacted angrily today to news that disgraced former BC Lottery boss Vic Poleschuck may walk away with a taxpayer-funded severance package of almost $500,000 after being fired in the wake of a scathing Ombudsman's report.

"What does it take to get fired 'with cause' if you are the head of a BC Crown Corporation said Maureen Bader, BC Director of the CTF. "Not, it seems, letting customers get scammed out of potentially millions of dollars."

According to the Public Sector Employers Act's Employment Termination Standards, an employee must not be given severance for termination for cause. However, the Lottery Corporation Board terminated Vic Poleschuck because they decided "a change of leadership was in order." As a result, he may get up to 18 months salary as severance for being fired without cause.

"This is laughable," said Bader. "The timing is an insult to the public's intelligence."

The Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General John Les was quoted as saying more heads may roll.

"How much will it cost taxpayers to fire the entire Board of Directors " said Bader. "The time is now to privatize the Lottery Corporation and eliminate this liability to taxpayers."

The Ombudman's report also examined the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch's oversight of the BC Lottery Corporation. The Branch did not audit or investigation BC Lottery Corporation's lottery retail network or its complaints handling process.

"Government has shown that it cannot be the provider of gaming services and the regulator at the same time," said Bader. "It is time for the government to get out of the gaming business and focus its attention on regulation of the industry."