TORONTO – The Speaker of the Ontario legislature has ruled that there was no contempt of parliament in the Hydro One dealings with the provincial ombudsman and the government.
The Progressive Conservatives complained after ombudsman Andre Marin accused officials at Hydro One of misleading, and even lying, to him and the Ministry of Energy about the extent of its billing problems.
READ MORE: Tories ask police to investigate allegations Hydro One misled government
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Marin included a chapter called “Obstructing the Ombudsman” in his report to the legislature on Hydro One’s “abominable” treatment of customers who received faulty bills.
The Tories say Marin was investigating complaints MPPs raised on behalf of their constituents, and lying to the ombudsman, an officer of the legislature, was the same as misleading them.
READ MORE: Tories say Hydro One in contempt of legislature after utility misled ombudsman
But Speaker Dave Levac ruled there was no contempt and no breach of a member’s privilege because the ombudsman never said he was unable to complete his investigation into Hydro One.
Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli unknowingly used misinformation from Hydro One in the legislature, but no one alleged he intentionally misled the house, which Levac calls a “cardinal sin” in parliament.
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