Wynne vague on Hydro One rumours

‘No decision made,’ premier says after media report on plan to sell portion of utility

Premier Kathleen Wynne is refusing to confirm or deny that her cashstrapped government will sell off more of Hydro One than has already been planned.

In the wake of a report in the Globe and Mail suggesting the Liberals are looking at selling off up to 15 per cent of the provincial transmission utility through a share offering, Wynne stressed Tuesday that “no decision” has been made.

The premier admitted the rampant speculation “has gotten into the public realm prematurely” and her advisers emphasized to the Star that several different proposals are being studied as Queen’s Park determines how to eliminate a $12.5-billion deficit.

Wynne has said for months that the government will follow the recommendation of her privatization czar, Ed Clark, to sell Hydro One Brampton and Hydro One Networks’ distribution arm to reap $2 billion to $3 billion to be used to fund transit infrastructure. Clark has also recommended changes to alcohol distribution — in- cluding to the private, foreignowned Beer Store monopoly — to bring additional money to the treasury.

That could include the sale of beer and wine at large supermarkets, such as Loblaws, or big-box stores such as Costco.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa, who is now crafting a budget that is not expected until May, emphasized that it is “premature” to speculate what the government will do with Hydro One or other assets.

But Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli fanned the flames by refusing to rule out the eventual majority sale of Hydro One, claiming “several options and permutations and combinations” are being considered.

“The province will have a significant ownership interest in it. We’re going to be very careful with respect to ensuring that ratepayers’ interests are protected,” Chiarelli told reporters.

“No determination has been made yet in terms of control or extent of control at this particular point in time.”

The Liberals are mindful that the proposed sale of all of Hydro One by former Progressive Conservative premier Mike Harris in 2001 was scrapped by his successor, Ernie Eves, in 2002 after lawsuits and political headaches.