Panel probing Liberal spending

An Ontario government committee is asking for emails and records from former Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne and several of her cabinet ministers. Premier Doug Ford announced the committee last month, days after his finance minister said Ontario was running a $15-billion deficit. The select committee wants documents relating to the previous government’s Fair Hydro plan and accounting practices for two provincial pension funds.

Both items were at the heart of a dispute with the province’s auditor general. The new Progressive Conservative government has adopted the auditor general’s accounting recommendations.

It says an independent commission found greater deficits under the Liberals than had been reported. The committee of six Tories and three New Democrats has also called a number of witnesses, including the auditor general, several deputy ministers, and the secretary of cabinet. No Liberal legislators have been tapped to appear so far.

Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser says he doesn’t believe the committee will find anything new, noting the province’s financial reports are public.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath expressed concerns the committee would be a “bit of a dog-and-pony show” rather than a real exercise in fiscal scrutiny. The panel’s request is also directed at some of the province’s top civil servants.

The committee is expected to provide a final report in December.