Grits taken aback by new OPP probe
Police investigating Liberals over cancelled windmill project dating back to 2011
Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals have been blindsided by another Ontario Provincial Police criminal probe over the alleged deletion of documents related to a cancelled energy project.
“We were not aware of any investigation until the media report,” Wynne said Wednesday, referring to a story in the Ottawa Citizen that the OPP is suddenly looking into a controversy dating to 2011.
“If we are contacted we will, as always, co-operate fully with authorities,” the premier told the legislature.
OPP Det.-Supt. Dave Truax said the force is “investigating allegations of wrongdoing involving a proposal to supply wind energy from turbines in the eastern portion of Lake Ontario.”
“An investigation was recently launched after allegations were made by a third-party vendor — Tril- lium Power Energy Corporation. The investigation will involve determining if any criminal offences were committed, or any offences (were committed) under a provincial statute,” said Truax.
He declined to say if any politicians, political staff or bureaucrats are being investigated.
“The investigation does involve the government of Ontario,” said Truax, adding the OPP’s anti-racket branch is investigating.
Trillium Power president John Kourtoff, whose company has a longstanding $500-million lawsuit against the province over the Dalton McGuinty government’s 2011 moratorium on offshore wind projects, said he contacted the OPP in February after it appeared key documents had “vapourized.”
Kourtoff said it appeared to him something was missing after normal document disclosures related to the case took place between the government and Trillium.
“That’s what pulled the thread. The question is what else is missing?” said Kourtoff.
Trillium’s allegations have not been proved in court and no charges have been laid. The case is still ongoing.
Currently, two ex-Liberal aides are facing several charges including breach of trust, mischief in relation to data, and misuse of a computer system in the wake of the cancellation by former premier Dalton McGuinty of power plants in Mississauga and Oakville before the 2011 election.
McGuinty’s chief of staff and deputy chief — Laura Miller and David Livingston, respectively — were charged after an OPP anti-rackets probe of wiped hard drives related to the cancellation that could end up costing taxpayers more than $1 billion over the next 20 years.
Miller and Livingstone deny any wrongdoing. Their case is back in court May 26.
Asked if there’s any connection between the two probes, Truax said: “It’s too early to speculate.”
“Any linkages to other investigations are not yet known. The investigation is in its early stages. As such, the OPP is unable to comment further on this matter or predict its outcome.”
Trillium had hoped to build four wind projects 17 to 28 kilometres off the shore of Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County, west of Kingston.
But then-environment minister John Wilkinson announced a moratorium on all offshore wind turbines on Feb. 11, 2011.
The Star has obtained a previously redacted confidential government memo to Wilkinson from policy adviser Brenda Lucas that reveals why the province halted such energy projects.
“It will be clear that we don’t have adequate science to build a more specific offshore approvals process,” says the Jan. 6, 2011 document that warns the government would face heat for “moving forward without full science . . . .”
Sources say Wilkinson took that advice to McGuinty and then-energy minister Brad Duguid, and the cabinet later put offshore wind projects on hold.
Wynne said Wednesday the Ministry of the Environment is still researching the subject.
But Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown accused the Liberals of trying to “dodge, deny, deflect, muddy the waters” while yet another criminal investigation is underway.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said this latest OPP probe, the gas plants, and the sale of Hydro One suggest it is time for a public inquiry.
“The Liberal scandals in our energy sector seem never-ending,” said Horwath.