By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 18, 2013
No apology from Wynne for cost of gas plant
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne ignored opposition demands Wednesday that she apologize for low-balling the $275-million cost of the Liberal government’s decision to pull the plug on a gas plant in Mississauga by $85 million.
“People are tired of the denials. They’re tired of the hidden information,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said during question period.
“They want the premier to admit – that’s all they want – that this was wrong, and to apologize.”
The Progressive Conservatives said the auditor general’s report – released on Monday – was proof the Liberals had intentionally misled the public about the true cost of cancelling the Mississauga gas plant.
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The Tories accused Wynne of also underestimating the cost of scrapping another gas plant in Oakville, which the government puts at $40 million.
“I asked the premier to apologize for the $85 million and for the future costs we’re going to see in Oakville,” said PC energy critic Vic Fedeli.
“Being a Liberal means never having to say you’re sorry.”
Wynne accepted responsibility for what she admitted was a political decision by the Liberals to cancel the Mississauga gas plant in mid-construction, just days before the October 2011 election.
However, even though she was Liberal campaign co-chair at the time, Wynne declined repeated requests to say sorry for the higher-than-expected price tag of the cancellation for the Mississauga project. (Source: Global News)