Horwath to Wynne: release the emails, tell Ontarians why you’re charging $4B extra on hydro bills

NDP motion Wednesday will force disclosure

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is demanding that the Wynne Liberals release emails examined by the Auditor General in her recent investigation of Kathleen Wynne’s $40 billion hydro borrowing scheme.

Auditor Bonnie Lysyk revealed Tuesday that emails show the government knew that the cost to cover up their borrowing scheme would reach the astonishing amount of $4 billion – but the Wynne government chose to do it anyway.

“The Auditor General has been very clear about this – the Liberal government knew that this financial trick would cost the people of Ontario an extra $4 billion dollars, the AG has emails that prove it,” said Horwath. “Kathleen Wynne has promised over and over again to be open and transparent with the people of this province – well, now is her chance to actually do that. She needs to release those emails.”

In question period Wednesday, the government refused to commit to make the emails public. As a result, NDP Energy critic Peter Tabuns will move a motion to require the public disclosure of the emails from the Liberal government.

“The people of Ontario deserve to know who authorized a $4-billion accounting trick designed to hide the cost of the premier's hydro borrowing scheme,” said Tabuns. “It’s nothing more than blatant partisan politicking at the expense of Ontario families.”

Horwath said that the Wynne Liberals are completely out of touch with what Ontario families are going through.

“It’s like the premier doesn’t even open her own hydro bills,” said Horwath. “Wynne is making Ontarians spend an extra $4 billion dollars on their hydro bills while some people are struggling just to put food on the table and keep the lights on at the same time.”

The NDP has laid out a better way to lower hydro bill prices, and keep them down. Horwath’s plan to cut hydro bills includes bringing Hydro One back into public hands, giving Ontario more control over hydro bills again.