FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 5, 2016
Ministry of Energy Handing Out Renewable Contracts to Donor Companies
QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario’s archaic fundraising rules have continued to make news due to the appearance that large-scale corporate donations are having an impact on the business of the government. Today during Question Period, members of the Ontario PC Caucus highlighted a number of concerning donations from wind power companies, who in turn received government contracts.
“The Minister of Energy is a prolific fundraiser for the Liberal Party, because he needs to meet his cabinet seat quota. It is reported that the Minister of Energy’s fundraising target was as high as $300,000,” said Leader of the Official Opposition Patrick Brown. “That’s not an easy task for anyone. Some could raise that money through hard work, or maybe the minister found other ways.”
Over the last few years, seven renewable energy companies donated $255,000 to the Liberal Party, and in the latest round of renewable procurements all seven of those companies were awarded contracts from the Ministry of Energy. These contracts occurred despite the Auditor General confirming that the province is overproducing electricity and selling it at a loss.
Three wind companies, Enerfin, SWEB Developments, and Innergex, who have never donated to the Liberal Party of Ontario applied for contracts in the same round of procurement but didn’t receive any contracts.
“The Premier can deflect from the real reasons these unnecessary contracts are being signed but we all know she’s just paying it forward,” added PC Energy Critic and MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke John Yakabuski. “How can the Premier claim this is an impartial process when the companies that don’t donate get nothing and companies that donate a quarter of a million dollars get signed lucrative contracts?”
“Will the Premier tell us, has any Minister of Energy solicited donations for the Ontario Liberal Party from companies seeking grants or contracts with the government of Ontario, yes or no?” concluded Leader Patrick Brown.
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CONTACT: Jamie Hofing | 416-325-8505 | jamie.hofing@pc.ola.org
13 Comments
Pat Cusack
Bribery and corruption in high places.
Bruce Posch
We need to demand jail time for them.
Bruce Miller
Buggery in the first degree! Too bad the CRAP didn’t do this???
Andre Lauzon
The Ontario Libs learned from the Fed. liberals. Chiarelli did not live in Ottawa for nothing.
Barbara
BluEarth owned by OTPP had to donate to get a contract? Guess Ontario teachers don’t care how their pension money is spent and who gets it!
ScepticalGord
Typical of this corrupt Wynne government:
3.6 seconds after they rake in over $2 million at the annual ass-kiss soiree, the Liberal party gets all mighty white and moral and insist that such unsavory fundraising practices must end immediately, especially before the other non-governing parties get their turn.
Ben Sanders
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/ontario-taps-firms-to-build-new-renewable-energy-projects/article29130899/
Brian
This government has a lot in common with the government in Brazil.
Bill
How is this legal?
Ike Bottema
Wow! Skypower should lodge a complaint. They had to pay $20,000 per Megawatt! Meanwhile Res only paid $500 per Megawatt. Sweet deal eh Res? Obviously Enerfin, SWEB Developments, and Innergex don’t know how graft works here!
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