Oakville didn’t want gas-powered plant, mayor testifies
Posted March 19, 2013 1:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Testimony continued Tuesday at a legislative committee looking into the controversial cancellation of two GTA gas-fired power plants that the Progressive Conservatives and NDP claim cost taxpayers around $1 billion.
The Ontario Liberals cancelled a proposed power plant in Oakville in 2010 and another slated for Mississauga in October 2011, just days before the provincial election. The Liberals say the Oakville cancellation cost around $40 million and the Mississauga cancellation cost $190 million.
On Tuesday, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton told the justice committee he questioned why the government would want to build a power plant within close range of thousands of homes, several schools and a hospital, among other important landmarks.
No municipal approvals, including a building permit, were in place when the Liberals decided to move forward with the plan. Burton said he made it clear to former premier Dalton McGuinty that he didn’t want the facility built in the proposed location.
Burton also told the committee he received support from all three parties in his efforts to cancel the gas plant plan.
Up until this week, the Liberals maintained the cost of cancelling the Oakville facility was about $40 million. On Monday, Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli admitted that number likely isn’t accurate.
On Tuesday, critics continued to hammer the Liberals on the cost of the cancellations.
“[The Opposition parties are] picking figures out of the air,” Chiarelli said during question period on Tuesday at Queen’s Park. “They’re not prepared to wait for all the witnesses to present their evidence or to wait for the auditor general to give his opinion.”
PC MPP John Yakabuski claims Chiarelli changed his tune on the $40-million figure because he knows something he’s not yet revealed in the legislature.
“You have new information. You are aware of that cost is higher,” Yakabuski shouted during question period.
“It’s about time you fessed up and tell the actual truth.”
