Instead of a full judicial inquiry in front of a judge, which the government thinks will be too expensive, they've set up a justice committee to gather information about the gas plant cancellations. Apparently they're finally trying to be frugal.
Hundreds of witnesses will be called before the committee. This week, the NDP brought mechanical engineer and energy advisor Bruce Sharp who stated that the cancelled gas plant in Oakville – which the government originally pegged as a $40 million loss – actually set taxpayers back by $638 million. Sharp said that the government could have saved tens of millions if it had negotiated a better deal in the first place.
The $230 million figure the government held for the cancelled plants in Oakville and Mississauga now appears to be $828 million, and counting.
The Premier herself admitted that scrapping the gas plants was a ‘political decision’; it was not made by the cabinet and government, but instead by the Liberal election war room. Kathleen Wynne would know – she was a co-chair of that Liberal campaign.
Taxpayers will continue to watch this committee closely, and follow what the opposition calls the "largest single cover-up in Ontario’s political history." This government has caused a mess in the energy sector, not just with these canceled gas plants, but with all its green energy subsidies as well.
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