Liberal Disinformation on Gas Plant – Letter by MPP Jim McDonell

QUEEN’S PARK – Former Secretary of Cabinet Shelly Jamieson confirmed under oath today during a Justice Committee hearing that the Government knew all along about the potential costs associated with the Mississauga and Oakville gas plant cancellations.

MPP Jim McDonell stated: “Jamieson’s testimony confirmed that Cabinet was fully briefed on the costs associated with the cancellation of the Mississauga and Oakville gas plants. For the second day in a row, Premier Kathleen Wynne and Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli have been caught red-handed. They have denied knowing the costs above those given to them by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), when in fact they were fully briefed in Cabinet about all costs.”

Jamieson’s testimony follows yesterday’s Auditor General’s Report, which revealed glaring misuse and waste of public money during the cancellations and that the OPA was fully aware Ontarians would be on the hook for at least $275 million to cancel the Mississauga gas plant.  The Auditor-General’s report on the Oakville plant relocation, which expert witnesses have estimated to be over $800 million, is not expected until this July.

MPP Jim McDonell continued: “Last week we received documents with Premier Wynne’s signature tying her to the Oakville gas plant decision and today, Jamieson confirmed that Premier Wynne would have been briefed in Cabinet about the costs on a regular basis. There is undeniable evidence that Premier Wynne was involved in the gas plant cancellations. With the evidence mounting, her continued attempts to deny any involvement in or knowledge of this fiasco are deplorable.”

MPP Jim McDonell concluded: “It’s time for Premier Wynne to come clean with Ontarians and stop using every trick in the book to deny her involvement and shield those responsible for this travesty from being held to account.”