Wynne willing to have committee probe gas plant controversy

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said on Thursday that she intends on creating a special committee that will examine the pricey cancellation of two GTA gas plants.

The governing Liberals' decision to cancel two gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga — costing taxpayers at least $230 million — was seen as a bid to save Liberal seats amid strong local opposition to the projects.

Wynne declared her intention to create a committee in a letter that was sent to both opposition leaders.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had both requested further scrutiny of the decision.

Wynne's letter said that she supports a proposal to "strike a select committee to review all issues relating to the Oakville and Mississauga gas plant relocations. Where mistakes were made, they must be addressed and prevented from happening again."

Wynne stated that once the legislature has resumed, the committee will be selected.

The premier has said she will testify if asked, which is something former premier Dalton McGuinty would not do.

Wynne has said she wasn't a part of any meetings on the decision to cancel the Mississauga plant.

"I was part of the campaign team, but I was not in any of those meetings," said Wynne. "And, if I am asked to come forward, I will come and answer the questions that I’m asked."

Progressive Conservative critic Frank Klees said that Wynne should take a lie-detector test if she wants Ontarians to believe that she had no involvement.

"If she insists that, as the campaign co-chair, and as someone who sat at the cabinet table to approve this deal that she has no recollection, she may want to establish her credibility by submitting to one of those lie-detector tests, because I don't believe it," said Klees.