The fact Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government put aside $231 million to cover the costs of cancelling 758 early-stage renewable energy projects approved by the previous Liberal government makes sense.
The alternative was to keep sticking hydro ratepayers with the costs of going forward with these projects, delivering expensive, unreliable and unneeded electricity for decades to come.
But what the Ford government failed to do at the time was to disclose the $231-million cost of cancelling the contracts, which could be higher since that’s only the government’s estimate.
Instead, the Progressive Conservatives focused solely on what they said would be $790 million in savings by cancelling the contracts.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, whose party discovered the $231-million price tag — vaguely described as “other transactions” by the government — has asked auditor general Bonnie Lysyk to investigate the costs and the government’s claimed savings.
Given how the PCs praised Lysyk’s work exposing Liberal waste when they were in opposition, they should welcome an inquiry if Lysyk decides one is warranted.
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See Also:
(1) ‘Bonjour!’: Why Doug Ford is paying lip service to French speakers
(2) Ontario’s next Liberal leader faces difficult task of rebuilding party, experts say
(3) ‘Highway robbery’: Tourism operator slams Ontario’s fee hike for highway signs
(4) Protesters blame new Great Lakes plan for Ottawa River, Lake Ontario floods
(5) Government of Ontario to Expand Use of Off-Road Vehicles
