WINNIPEG, MB: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) filed two complaints with the provincial Ombudsman’s office today over Manitoba Hydro’s refusal to disclose information after receiving Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.

The first complaint is over Manitoba Hydro’s refusal to provide a single receipt for $224 million worth of expenditures after receiving a FOI request from the CTF. The bills were paid by Hydro, but racked up by northern reserves for consulting, legal and other costs for the Wuskwatim, Conawapa and Keeyask dam projects as well as the Bipole III transmission line. The bills do not include construction costs, just “negotiation” expenses.

“It’s unacceptable for any government body to spend nearly a quarter of a billion dollars and hide the receipts from the public,” said CTF Prairie Director Colin Craig. “We’ve heard some pretty outrageous claims about how the funds were spent, but Hydro has refused to release details.”

The second complaint is over Manitoba Hydro’s refusal to disclose details about something noted in its 2010-11 Annual Report; a First Nation that “terminated an employee for altering invoices payable to the corporation.” The refusal was in response to a CTF freedom of information request. The CTF is investigating whether or not this instance is tied to allegations of misuse of dam negotiation expenditures. 

To view the letters to the provincial Ombudsman, see below: 

Complaint letter regarding secrecy over $224 million – click here
Complaint letter regarding secrecy over altered invoices – click here