QUEEN’S PARK — Liberal members of the Standing Committee on Estimates are attempting to obstruct a legislative investigation into the abruptly cancelled power plants in Oakville and Mississauga.

In the run-up to the 2011 provincial election, the Liberal government hastily cancelled two major power plant developments following significant outcry from local residents concerned about the plants’ proximity to residential communities.

“The people of Ontario were told that these power plants were absolutely critical to the province’s future power supply. Obviously, these plants weren’t as important as saving the Liberal seats their development threatened,” said MPP Vic Fedeli, PC Critic for Energy. malawi . “Its clear that the Liberal government cancelled these plants to save Liberal seats without any regard for the consequences.”

The Liberal government has refused to reveal the estimated costs of canceling these two massive power developments. Industry experts anticipate the cancellations will cost Ontario taxpayers over $1 billion in penalties and lawsuits.

“The PC members of the Estimates committee are trying to get to the bottom of this situation. We’ve requested access to public documents but have been met with nothing but obstruction, delays and stonewalling every step of the way,” said MPP Rob Leone. “The Liberal members of the committee have attempted to keep Ontarians in the dark about the impact of these plant cancellations.”

“We have seen cover-up after cover-up at the OLG, eHealth, Hydro One and most recently, the Liberal Government has attempted to cover-up the ongoing scandal that plagues ORNGE and the Health Minister Deb Matthews,” added Leone.

This is just another example of a broader trend that is emerging in Ontario as a result of the McGuinty Liberals disregard for transparency and accountability.

“It is time that the Liberals stop their obstruction and allow the Standing Committee on Estimates to study how much taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ are on the hook as a result of the McGuinty government’s incompetency,” concluded Leone.