OPP launches criminal probe into deleted gas-plant emails

The Ontario Provincial Police has launched a criminal probe into the destruction of emails — about the cancellation of two GTA gas plants — at Queen’s Park.

“It’s a criminal investigation now,” said OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis. “It’s just whether or not an offence occurred. For all intents and purposes, we’re currently conducting a criminal investigation into the allegations.”

Progressive Conservative Monte McNaughton, one of the MPPs who called for the probe, says deleting the emails constitutes theft of government property.

“Whoever covered this up quite frankly should go to jail,” he said.

“The only way we’re going to know for sure and the only way taxpayers are going to know is if the OPP [gets] to the bottom of this scandal.”

The Opposition is also calling for former premier Dalton McGuinty be brought back to the gas-plant hearings.

NDP critic Peter Tabuns said Premier Kathleen Wynne should order McGuinty back to the justice committee hearings to find out what he knew about the destruction of emails by his former chief-of-staff and other top Liberals.

“Did [McGuinty] tell them to do that?” Tabuns said. “On the other hand, did [McGuinty] in fact make it clear to them that information had to preserved and the law be followed.

“This is where the premier comes in, Kathleen Wynne. She should make sure that members of her caucus appear and answer questions.”

Ontario’s privacy commissioner found the Liberals broke provincial law when some emails related to the cancelled gas plants in Mississauga and Oakville were deleted.

The price tag has grown to an estimated $585 million, well above the $230 million the government had claimed.