Liberal PR rep grilled over gas plant announcements

(Updated) The justice committee looking into the cancellation of two gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga resumed today at Queen’s Park.

On the hot seat this morning was the former director of communications to the environment minister Brad Duguid. Alicia Johnston was asked repeatedly to name who wrote and coordinated the news announcements regarding the plant cancellations. And repeatedly, committee members became frustrated with her response.

NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns: “I don’t appreciate it, I don’t think the committee appreciates it. You can’t tell me who gave it to you?”

Johnston: “I’m trying to be helpful Mr Tabuns.”

Tabuns: “If you can’t tell me, say that.”

Johnston: “I, I, um, I’m happy to provide more context but I don’t know the specific person.”

Johnson did admit however that she believed it would be more than the number put forward by the McGuinty Liberals.

During a break in the proceedings Tabuns and his Conservative counterpart Vic Fedeli commented to the media.

Tabuns: “I’m getting used to them saying they make decisions without full information. The Liberals were doing things to serve their political purposes, they had seats to protect, the cost really wasn’t relevant to them, and that was reinforced today by this witness.”

Fedeli: “Despite the fact that it’s obvious that they cancelled both gas plants without having any idea what it was going to cost, they did know the cost was going to be more than $40 million. Ms Johnson was one of the very few witnesses to actually acknowledge that the cost was going to be greater than $40 million and they knew it as early as 2010. Sadly of course the Liberal government continues to say the cost to the taxpayer is $40 million and we now know that number is wrong, it could be by a factor of 10 or 20.

The committee is trying to determine the costs associated with cancelling the two gas plants. To date the price tag is $585 million.

Additional video: Peter Tabuns and Vic Fedeli comment: