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Costs `higher than anyone would have wanted': McGuinty by Rob Ferguson Toronto Star 13 | Wednesday, May 8, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty testified at a committee probing cancelled power plants in Oakville and Mississauga Tuesday, the $585-million cost is "higher than anyone would have wanted." In long-awaited testimony before a legislative committee investigating the controversial cancellations -- which opposition parties charge was done to save five Liberal seats in the 2011 election -- McGuinty maintained the plants were axed as they were too close to residential areas. "Our government was wrong" in picking the locations, McGuinty said in his opening statement. "In Oakville and Mississauga, we were faced with a circumstance where gas plants were sited right next to schools, condominium towers, family homes, and a hospital. That wasn't right." When it came time to build the plants, regulations implemented in 2009 would not have allowed wind turbines on the sites so it would have been folly to build natural gas-fired power plants there, McGuinty added. "This all happened in the run-up to the election campaign," he admitted, speaking of the Mississauga plant axed less than two weeks before voting day on Oct. 6, 2011. "When that campaign began, the people of that community repeated their argument that In Oakville and Mississauga, we were faced with a circumstance where gas plants were sited right next to schools, condominium towers, family homes, and a hospital. That wasn't right. Dalton McGuinty, former Ontario premier the plant didn't belong there." He added: "All three parties promised to cancel the plant if elected." McGuinty also acknowledged the minority government's ability to get accurate figures on the cancellation costs has been "less than stellar." As opposition MPPs began questioning McGuinty, the atmosphere quickly grew tense as Progressive Conservative energy critic Vic Fedeli (North Bay) accused McGuinty of "masterminding the heist" of taxpayer dollars to protect Liberal seats. He repeatedly asked McGuinty, who stepped down as premier in February but remains the MPP for Ottawa South, when he knew the $40 million cost figure originally given for cancelling Oakville and a $190 million figure for Mississauga were too low. "We always relied on $40 million and $190 million," McGuinty replied, saying the figures came from the Ontario Power Authority and the Ministry of Energy. "I don't believe your answer," Fedeli retorted, citing previous testimony before the committee from OPA officials that they told the government for many months that costs would be higher than the figures Liberal officials were touting publicly. The OPA now says cancelling Oakville will cost $310 million -- eight times more than the government maintained, while Mississauga will cost $275 million, which is 45 per cent more than the government said, according to an auditor general's report. McGuinty also testified he did not know how much it would cost to cancel the plants when he made the decisions in October 2010 for Oakville and in late September 2011 for Mississauga. "That is true," he said. "I did not know... I knew that would be a complicated issue." New Democrat MPP Peter Tabuns (TorontoDanforth), his party's energy critic, charged that was irresponsible. "You leapt into the dark." The Oakville plant is being relocated to Sarnia while the Mississauga plant, which was partially built, is moving to Napanee. HOST FAMILIES NEEDED! Open Your Home & Hearts to a Student From Spain This Summer Red Leaf Student Program needs families in Oakville and Burlington to host a Student from Spain in July and August. Students attend classes and activities Monday to Friday. Remuneration of $70000/4 weeks paid to host families. Veronica 905-637-0879 For more information GOLF SEASON IS OFFICIALLY OPEN! LINE UP at Oakville Volkswagen Total of 36 in stock Swing in, make your best deal and let us take you Golfing!!! $2000 CASH BACK on selected models* ** Retail value $238, includes green fees, range priviliges, valid all season. *All gas models. TDI models eligible for $1000 cash back Plus... all in stock Golf deliveries (Gas or Diesel) receive 2 green fees at Pipers Heath** Until May 31, 2013 CELEBRATE vw.ca Included with every in stock purchase: Two 2013 season green fees at Piper's Heath Golf Club** Purchase a vehicle from Oakville Volkswagen and we will make a Donation to the Oakville Hospital Foundation!