Queen’s Park – Ontario NDP Finance Critic Catherine Fife, MPP Kitchener-Waterloo, is demanding the government explain another $700,000 paid to high-priced consultants working for the Clark panel. Earlier this spring New Democrats uncovered $6.823 million spent on consultants for the sell-off of Hydro One and changes to beer and wine.
“Kathleen Wynne just doesn’t get it. Life isn’t getting easier for middle class and struggling families, but it sure is for her powerful friends and her high-priced consultants,” said Fife. “Middle class families want to see their government investing in their priorities. Not blowing hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants. It’s families who are paying the bill for these consultants. They should see what they’re paying for.”
While the panel spent over $6.8 million on Clark panel consultants over the period of a year, they have paid an additional $700,000 to consultants in less than 7 weeks. The payments include $400,000 paid to KPMG and $300,000 paid to Deloitte. New Democrats specifically requested a “description of the services provided” but the government refused to say what work has been done, and what the panel has received. This brings the current total value of contracts for the Clark Panel to over $7.5 million.
“Kathleen Wynne is plowing ahead with a sell-off of Hydro One, without listening to the people who actually own it. It’s going to make life harder for middle class families and for businesses. But when it comes to where to sell a 12-pack, she’s spent more than $700,000 in just over a month – her priorities are all wrong,” continued Fife.
Fife noted that the refusal to provide any details of the consulting services provided is becoming a trade-mark of Kathleen Wynne. Earlier this month the Liberals passed their omnibus budget which removed all independent oversight from Hydro One.