McGuinty doesn't want to release gas plant documents yet

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says the government does not want to publicly release documents related to two cancelled power plants until it finishes negotiating with the developers of the projects.

McGuinty said Friday the government will eventually release the documents on the cancelled generating stations in Mississauga and Oakville, but warns a premature release could end up costing taxpayers even more money.

Speaker Dave Levac ruled Thursday that Energy Minister Chris Bentley violated members' privileges by refusing to turn over all documents on the cancelled projects to a legislative committee.

The Speaker gave the three parties until Sept. 24 to work out a way to settle the dispute, but the Progressive Conservatives say there is only one resolution: release all the documents now.

McGuinty has written the opposition party leaders asking them to stop playing politics with such a sensitive issue, and says he's open to having the committee view the documents privately, an idea the Tories flatly rejected.

Conservative house leader Jim Wilson says McGuinty isn't being truthful about the penalty clauses in the contracts, and calls the $190-million cost of halting construction on the Mississauga project "the tip of the iceberg."