Canadian taxpayers will pick up the tab in the case of a former head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., who took her claim of wrongful dismissal to court.

Kelly McDougald reached an out-of-court settlement with the Ontario government that will give her more than $740,000-more than double her annual salary.

According to the Toronto Star, McDougald, who had been seeking $8.85 million in damages, portrayed herself as a political scapegoat who took the fall for a series of no-bid contracts at OLG. The corporation was also criticized for general overspending. According to reports, consultants paid as much as $3,000 a day expensed tea and cookies to taxpayers.

Opposition parties warned the firing could end up costing taxpayers more than if McDougald had been given a package, the Star reported.

By Staff