“The cost of moving gas power plants for political reasons is more than financial. It erodes confidence in our government and our democracy. It leads to cynicism and turns people off politics.It’s a sad day for democracy when jokes are flying around Queen’s Park that the going rate for a Liberal seat is $40 million. Perhaps the Liberal party should repay the $200 plus million that this fiasco will cost taxpayers or ratepayers.” MIKE SCHREINER, GPO LEADER
The government must be held accountable for such a blatant and obvious example of putting partisan political interests ahead of the public’s interests.
Forgotten in all the talk of gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville is that the Holland Marsh Peaker plant proceeded against local opposition in a PC held riding.
That plant is located in Ontario’s protected Greenbelt, adjacent to prime farm land and sensitive wetlands. These compelling reasons and local opposition weren’t enough to stop the plant in a PC riding, yet days before an election local opposition was enough to stop a plant in a Liberal held riding.
At a minimum the Premier should issue an unambiguous apology to the people of Ontario for the costs to our finances and democracy that have arisen from his government’s mishandling of siting of gas plants in Ontario.”
Green Party of Ontario
PO Box 1132
Toronto, ON M4Y 2T8
Canada
QUEEN’S PARK – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett says taxpayers are stuck with a $640 million bill for government jiggery-pokery in cancelling the Oakville and Mississauga natural gas plants.
Barrett revealed the price tag after learning the cost of the politically-motivated decision to cancel and relocate the Oakville gas plant rings in at around $450 million. This after the Official Opposition went ahead with a motion to hold Energy Minister Chris Bentley in contempt of the Legislature over his refusal to hand over public documents. Previously, the bill to shut down the Mississauga plant was pegged at $190 million.
“After watching this government slam the door on what was a 600 plus workforce at OPG Nanticoke, and pit neighbour against neighbour over windmills, these revelations are further proof that the McGuinty government can’t be trusted to manage a complex issue like energy,” Barrett charged.
“The case for contempt is growing against the McGuinty Liberals,” Opposition House Leader Jim Wilson said. “Not only are they still trying to hide the true cost of cancelling these gas plants, but there’s also reason to believe that Minister Bentley has failed to provide all documents requested by the Estimates Committee.”
“It has come to this – an historic contempt motion this government has brought upon itself through constant hide and seek game-playing,” stated Barrett. “But they continue to snub their nose – the documents they finally handed over are incomplete at best.”
Barrett noted that despite an order that the documents were to be produced with no omissions or redactions, thousands of documents appear altered with some sections completely missing.
For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629