Tories say spending still an issue at eHealth Ontario

The Progressive Conservatives are raising new concerns about overspending at eHealth Ontario.

The Liberals made major changes at eHealth after the auditor general found $1 billion had been spent with little to show for it, while well-paid consultants nickled and dimed the agency for expenses.

Conservative MPP Rick Nichols said MondayeHealth has now spent $2.5 billion, but still hasn't hit its targets for creating electronic medical records or a drug information system.

Nichols says "cronyism" and "scandalous" overspending are still problems at eHealth, an agency he calls a "complete and utter joke."

The Tories claim consultants who abused eHealth expense accounts are now with another firm that is poised to get $70 million in contracts from the agency.

Health Minister Deb Matthews calls those "very serious allegations," and says eHealth is a vital component of the health-care system and will eventually save taxpayers money.

Former health minister David Caplan was forced to resign in 2009 over expense abuses by outside consultants hired by eHealth.