NORTH BAY -“To cover up the truth about the McGuinty Liberals’ political involvement in the decision to cancel the Oakville and Mississauga gas plants, the code word ‘Vapour’ was created”, PC Energy Critic Vic Fedeli charged today. “The Premier’s Office and cabinet, with the help of high-ranking government officials, made an obvious and duplicitous attempt to cover up their tracks and avoid any potential freedom of information requests made in the future regarding the power plants by using this code.”
Fedeli made the comments while citing that “Vapour Minutes” were distributed to senior government officials including the Premier’s current Chief of Staff David Livingston and former Chief of Staff Chris Morley on July 27th, 2011. Emails obtained by the Estimates Committee refer to ‘Vapour Minutes’ and the only document in government referred to as a ‘Minute is a Cabinet Minute’, explained the PM MPP.
“Considering that they were sitting at the cabinet table when they discussed cancelling the gas plants, these leadership contenders must explain to Ontarians why they agreed to spend $1 billion to save Liberal seats,” added Fedeli. “These emails demonstrate that even Sandra Pupatello can’t say that she was never involved in the decision as it was discussed prior to July 27th.”
Fedeli concluded, “These emails leave two questions that all seven Liberal Leadership contenders must answer: What role did you have in the politically motivated decision to cancel the Oakville and Mississauga power plants and how do you justify wasting $1 billion of taxpayers money to save five Liberal seats?
