NDP calls for Wynne to turn hydro bill hike docs over to FAO

Disgusted by documents showing the Wynne Liberals will dump the cost of their hydro borrowing scheme on Ontarians’ hydro bills, the NDP is asking the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) to investigate – and demanding that Wynne cooperate.

The NDP’s request for an FAO evaluation comes just after the leak of confidential Liberal cabinet documents that show hydro bills would shoot up sharply in just four years to pay back money the Liberals plan to borrow.

“Thanks to Premier Wynne and her privatization, hydro bills are sky high, and news that she is intentionally driving them higher is horrendous,” said NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns. “Families are struggling. Businesses have been forced to cut back on staff. I’m absolutely shocked that Premier Wynne still isn’t getting this: people can’t take any more of her hydro hikes.”  

Tabuns wrote to the FAO on Thursday, and is now demanding that Wynne cooperate by turning over cabinet documents on the hydro borrowing scheme. Glenn Thibeault, Wynne’s minister of energy, indicated Thursday that there are more cabinet documents with additional numbers – documents the NDP said the FAO should have access to.

Wynne plans to plow her controversial hydro borrowing plan through the legislature over just a two-week period, making the evaluation urgent.

News of the cost of Wynne’s hydro borrowing scheme comes just days after she announced further privatization of Hydro One. This week, Wynne began the process of selling off the province’s majority stake in Hydro One.