The entire board of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., including the chair and chief executive officer, either resigned or stepped down today after a housecleaning of the organization which overlooks gambling

in the province.

Among its many duties, the OLG oversees lotteries and casinos as well as the gaming aspect of Ontario racinos.

Chief executive officer Kelly McDougald stepped down, while OLG board chair Michael Gough and the rest of the board of directors has resigned. The OLG board positions have been filled on an interim basis.

According to a report by the Toronto Star, the mass departure comes as a pre-emptive move by the Liberal government to avert what has been described as an "eHealth Ontario-type scandal," which revealed to have squandered hundreds of millions of public dollars.

According to the report, Ontario finance minister Dwight Duncan had stated that McDougald -- who reportedly received a $400,000 annual salary -- was "severed with cause."

The Toronto Star article states that Duncan released expense claims, reports and receipts to reporters. "I am disappointed about what has been brought to my attention," he was quoted as saying.

One of the items expensed -- and repaid -- was for $487.50. The cost was for a nanny to be paid so a worker could attend meetings from September 2006 to December 2006. A $1.12 cloth grocery bag was also expensed.

Click here to the read the Toronto Star article in its entirety.

(With files from the Toronto Star)