Ontarians can claim an important victory today after Speaker Dave Levac censured the Minister of Energy, Chris Bentley, for not providing all the documents associated with the cancellation of the Oakville and Mississauga gas power plants.   A point of privilege brought forward by Cambridge MPP Rob Leone, was upheld after the Speaker found the minister concealed documents requested by the Standing Committee on Estimates.   This is the first step in the process of finding Minister Bentley in contempt of the Legislature.

“The right to order production of documents is fundamental to and necessary for the proper functioning of the assembly,“ said Levac, in a ruling that is a strong indictment of the McGuinty Government.  It would mark the first time in the history of the province that an Ontario cabinet minister was found to be in contempt.

“What is the McGuinty government hiding?” said Leone. “They’ve gone to unprecedented lengths to conceal these documents.  Ontarians expect accountability from their government.  The obstruction must end.  We need to get to the bottom of the mess at the Ministry of Energy.”

Earlier this year, the minister told the Estimates committee that the Liberal campaign team made a decision to close the Mississauga Power plant in order to win five seats in the 2011 provincial election.  The decision cost taxpayers $190 million and prompted the committee to request all materials related to the closure and relocation of the plant.  However,  any attempts to get further information, were stymied.  Since May, the government has consistently stonewalled the committee and prevented it from getting the information it requested.

PC energy critic Vic Fedeli feels this is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The $190 million figure they’ve put on their politically-motivated Mississauga cancellation is only a starting point.  We know it will cost $300 million or more for the new sole-sourced site in Lambton.  How do we know this is the most cost-effective solution for taxpayers?  That’s why we need these documents, and need them now.”

Leone says it is clear that a majority of MPPs are in agreement that these documents need to be made public as soon as possible.  This is just another example of a government that is hiding from the truth.  The PC Caucus continues to push for more information on ORNGE and eHealth. These scandals cost billions of dollars with many questions still unanswered.

“It looks like contempt to me,” said Leone.  “There is no limit to what the McGuinty government will do to cling to power.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they prorogued the Legislature in order to keep us from knowing the truth.”

For more information please contact

Cal MacLellan | Office of Rob Leone, MPP |cal.maclellan@pc.ola.org | 416.325.8451

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